Elastic scattering spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for differentiating pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract: preliminary testing

We report preliminary clinical testing of elastic-scattering spectroscopy for the detection of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Tissue pathologies are detected and diagnosed using spectral measurements of elastically scattered light in an optical geometry that results in sensitivity to both the absorption and scattering properties of the tissue, over a wide range of wavelengths (300 to 750 nm). The system employs a small fiber optic probe, which is amenable to use with most endoscopes or catheters, or to direct surface examination, as well as interstitial needles. In this paper we report the results of preliminary clinical measurements on various organ sites of the gastrointestinal tract. In several instances the data indicate promise for this diagnostic method to distinguish malignant and dysplastic conditions from normal or other diagnoses.