Investigating Effective Spectral Bands for Tissue Visualization in Oral Mucosa

Abstract

Detection of malignancies in the gastrointestinal tract through endoscopic investigations is crucial for managing the disease and improving cancer prognosis. However, current standard endoscopic procedures using white light sources have limitations in providing comprehensive tissue information. To address this issue, spectral imaging technology has been developed, which allows light to penetrate different tissue layers to capture the true spectral response of a tissue. The study discussed here focuses on using spectral imaging to image the sublingual region of the oral mucosa using a broadband light source and five different individual light illuminations to understand the characteristics of vascular structures under different wavelengths. This approach has the potential to provide valuable insights into the structure and function of different tissues and could lead to improvements in the detection and diagnosis of a wide range of diseases, including oral cancer. This study focuses on imaging the sublingual region of the oral mucosa using the broadband light source and five different individual light illuminations to understand the characteristics of vascular structures under different wavelengths. The study using Weber’s contrast, reveals that superficial blood vessels (SBV) have high contrast values at low wavelengths, while deep-seated blood vessels (DSBV) have high contrast values at higher wavelengths. This study confirms the findings of our previous study in a different system. The paper emphasizes the importance of using spectral imaging to capture comprehensive tissue information for the early detection of cancer and improved prognosis. The study highlights the need for an appropriate light source and the usage of individual LEDs for building a standalone system to effectively visualize vascular features. Further research on a larger scale is necessary to translate these findings into practical use for real-time endoscopic investigations.