Characteristics of fluorescence spectra from cancerous atherosclerotic and normal human and animal tissues

Abstract

Autofluorescence spectra in the visible range induced by an argon laser at 476 nm have been measured in vitro from cancerous, atherosclerotic and normal human and animal tissues. The main difference between diseased and normal tissues is seen as changes in the fluorescence around 540 nm and 576 nm in normal tissue. An extended investigation on fluorescence spectra of rat arteries and absorption spectra of human blood samples showed that the spectral difference of diseased tissues is due to reduction of haemoglobin concentration in cancerous and atherosclerotic tissue. The measurements performed using optical fibres showed the possibility of realizing a real-time, local spectral diagnostic for use in laser surgical procedures on atherosclerotic and cancerous lesions in vivo.