Raman spectroscopy for optical diagnosis in the larynx: preliminary findings.

Background And Objectives: Raman spectroscopy (RS) provides information about molecular structure and is a potential tool for non-invasive tissue diagnosis. To determine if Raman spectra could be obtained rapidly from laryngeal tissue in vitro, and compare Raman spectra from normal, benign, and cancerous laryngeal tissue.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Forty-seven laryngeal specimens were studied using RS with signal acquisition times (SAT) between 1 and 30 second(s). Multivariate analysis was used to determine the diagnostic ability of RS compared to standard histology (n = 18, 13, and 16 respectively for normal tissue, carcinoma, and squamous papilloma).

Results: Good quality spectra were obtained with 5-second SAT. Spectral peak analysis showed prediction sensitivities of 89%, 69%, and 88%, and specificities of 86%, 94%, and 94% for normal tissue, carcinoma, and papilloma.

Conclusions: In the larynx, spectral differences appear to exist between normal tissue, carcinoma, and papilloma. The ability to obtain spectra rapidly supports potential for future in vivo studies.