Parameter optimization of a laser-induced fluorescence system for in vivo screening of oral cancer

Abstract

Despite the advances in optical technologies for early detection of cancer, routine clinical applications are still not standardized. Among several optical methods, laser-induced fluorescence is a more matured and well understood technique. Still due care has to be taken about various factors to avoid erroneous results. The authors have carried out a systematic study on the effect of the various experimental parameters such as source stability, area of exposure, and angular/distance dependence of a fiber probe, which is used for the fluorescence measurements, from the specimen surface on the spectra. Investigations are carried out on both idealistic cases as well as on tissue surface. The details of the optimization of the parameters are presented and discussed in this paper.