Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate directly the utility of Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR-MC) in detecting cervical precancer by comparison with the pathological examination of biopsy tissue.
Methods: Cervical biopsy specimens were obtained from the outpatient department at Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital. Freshly isolated tissue was washed in isotonic saline and then frozen for use. Two successive slices were cut with a microtome. One unstained slice was used for reflectance FTIR-MC analysis; the other slice was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and used for position reference by microscopic mapping.
Results: The spectral region from 950 to 1500 cm(-1) is the most critical region in the IR spectrum of the tissue. There were two special peaks that had growth and decline in the IR spectra. The one at 1150 cm(-1) disappeared and the other at 1240 cm(-1) broadened when the tissue had pathological changes. From the results, we found that the ratio of the areas of the two regions between 1130 to 1180 cm(-1) and 1180 to 1260 cm(-1) was an exceptionally useful factor in discriminating precancerous tissues from normal tissues.
Conclusion: We carried out microscopic mapping of the tissues and demonstrated that the color map reflects pathological changes in the cervical tissues.