3. Medical Diagnostic Applications of Laser Technology
3.3 Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF)
Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) is a diagnostic technique that involves exciting tissue with a laser to induce fluorescence. This emission can be from naturally occurring substances (endogenous fluorophores) like NADH, FAD, or porphyrins, or from externally applied fluorescent markers. The fluorescence intensity and spectral shift reflect the biochemical composition of the tissue, enabling the detection of metabolic activity, tumor boundaries, or bacterial biofilms.
LIF has shown promising results in identifying precancerous lesions, such as those in the oral cavity or cervix, and is used intraoperatively to guide tumor resection. Its main advantages are rapid signal acquisition, high sensitivity, and the ability to monitor dynamic changes in metabolism (Zafar et al., 2021; De Miguel & MartÃnez, 2023).