THE PHOTONICS OF NANOSTRUCTURES AND BIOPHOTONICS The accuracy, reliability, and interpretation of the results of in vivo laser fluorescence diagnosis in the spectral range of the fluorescence of endogenous porphyrins

Based on an analysis of various clinical data, the assumption was recently expressed that the often observed in vivo increased fluorescence of endogenous porphyrins in living biological tissues is a consequence of the status of chronic hypoxia in the tissues. Starting from this, this article discusses the accuracy, reproducibility, and information content of methods of in vivo laser fluorescence diagnosis LFD in actual clinical practice. It is shown that, despite the random error of single measurements in LFD of 30–40% established earlier, the accuracy and reliability can reach a fairly high level when the results of the diagnosis are interpreted. The formal random scatter in the results of single measurements is largely determined not by the instrumental error but by the methodological error and by the living and changeable character of the object of diagnosis, especially at the level of the blood-microcirculation system. © 2009 Optical Society of America.