A Non-invasive Lung Disease Study of Exhaled Breath Nitric Oxide Based on Ultraviolet Differential Absorption Spectroscopy Techniques

Abstract

In this study, a non-invasive device based on ultraviolet differential absorption spectroscopy (UV-DOAS) technology for detecting fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)was developed and clinically validated in patients with various lung diseases. The diagnostic potential of FeNO was explored by analysing subgroups of patients with lung cancer, nodules, and other disease. The results showed that FeNO concentrations were significantly higher in patients with malignant tumours than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). The diagnostic efficacy of FeNO in different lung diseases was confirmed by ROC analysis: the AUC values were 0.925 for malignant tumours, 0.925 for suspected malignant/benign tumours, 0.792 for benign lesions, and 0.938 for infectious/inflammatory diseases. The significant postoperative FeNO level decrease supports the diagnostic use of FeNO in different stages of the disease. Compared with conventional electrochemical, chemiluminescent and fluorescent probe methods, the UV-DOAS technique has significant advantages regarding sensitivity and portability, suggesting its potential for clinical application.