A Study of Silver Halide Fibers Using Fiber Evanescent Wave Spectroscopy to Assess the Potential for In-vivo Diagnosis of Malignant Cervical Tissue

An in-vivo technique providing real-time automated diagnosis would be an ideal alternative to Pap smears in many parts of the world. Mid-infrared spectrometry has this potential but to date has only been investigated for cervical applications using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry on ex-vivo samples. This study aims to determine if Fiber Evanescent Wave Spectroscopy (FEWS) can provide the same diagnosis value as FTIR spectroscopy for cervical cancer with the aim of application in an in-vivo environment. Twenty-three cervical tissue samples were used to perfect the FEWS methodology and provide spectral readings from both the FEWS and transmission FTIR approach. Of the samples showing valid spectra, only one was diagnosed differently by both techniques. The cause was however attributed to sample preparation difficulties rather than spectral information content. It is proposed that these results provide a FEWS proof-of-concept as well as sufficient evidence to support further development.