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Human liver autofluorescence: An intrinsic tissue parameter discriminating normal and diseased conditions
Author(s) -
Croce Anna C.,
De Simone Uliana,
Freitas Isabel,
Boncompagni Eleonora,
Neri Daniele,
Cillo Umberto,
Bottiroli Giovanni
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.20923
Subject(s) - autofluorescence , pathology , liver tissue , biopsy , fluorescence , chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , medicine , optics , physics
Background and Objective Autofluorescence (AF) emission is an intrinsic parameter that can provide real‐time information on morpho‐functional properties of biological tissue, being strictly related with their biochemical composition and structural organization. The diagnostic potentials of AF‐based techniques have been investigated on normal, fibrotic, and steatotic liver tissues, in reference to histological features as evidenced by specific histochemical stainings. Materials and Methods AF emission under excitation at 366 nm has been examined on cryostatic tissue sections obtained from biopsies collected during surgical operation, by means of fluorescence imaging and microspectrofluorometric techniques. Results NAD(P)H, collagen, and vitamin A were found to be the endogenous fluorophores characterizing normal, fibrotic, and steatotic liver tissue AF, respectively. The differences of their photo‐physical properties, in terms of emission amplitude, spectral shape, and response to irradiation, give rise to modifications of overall AF signal collected from tissues that allow the liver conditions to be distinguished. Conclusion The study provides a valid premise for a development of AF‐based optical biopsy techniques for a real‐time discrimination of liver anatomo‐pathological patterns. Lasers Surg. Med. 42:371‐378, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.