Time-resolved multiphoton imaging of basal cell carcinoma

Year: 2007

Authors: Cicchi R., Sestini S., De Giorgi V., Stambouli D., Carli P., Massi D., Pavone FS.

Autors Affiliation: L.E.N.S., Department of Physics, University of Florence, via N. Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, via della Pergola 58, 50121, Florence, Italy; L.E.N.S., University of Florence, via N. Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, viale G. B. Morgagni 85, 50134 Florence, Italy

Abstract: We investigated human cutaneous basal cell carcinoma ex-vivo samples by combined time resolved two photon intrinsic fluorescence and second harmonic generation microscopy. Morphological and spectroscopic differences were found between malignant skin and corresponding healthy skin tissues. In comparison with normal healthy skin, cancer tissue showed a different morphology and a mean fluorescence lifetime distribution slightly shifted towards higher values. Topical application of delta-aminolevulinic acid to the lesion four hours before excision resulted in an enhancement of the fluorescence signal arising from malignant tissue, due to the accumulation of protoporphyrines inside tumor cells. Contrast enhancement was prevalent at tumor borders by both two photon fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging. Fluorescence-based images showed a good correlation with conventional histopathological analysis, thereby supporting the diagnostic accuracy of this novel method. Combined morphological and lifetime analysis in the study of ex-vivo skin samples discriminated benign from malignant tissues, thus offering a reliable, non-invasive tool for the in-vivo analysis of inflammatory and neoplastic skin lesions.

Conference title: Photonics West – BIOS 2007
Place: San Francisco, US

More Information: We thank European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (Contract number TOK-MC-509761) and Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze for financial support to this project
KeyWords: Amino acids; Fluorescence microscopy; Harmonic generation; Histology; Pathology; Tumors, Basal cell carcinoma; Lifetime imaging; Multiphoton microscopy; Multispectral imaging, Multiphoton processes
DOI: 10.1117/12.700216

Citations: 1
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