The Clinical Value of NLR, D-D and CRP/ALB Ratio in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Thromboembolism

Objective: To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and D-dimer (D-D) in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing hematology and coagulation in 362 PTCA-confirmed PTE patients with the control group and analyzing their relationships with CAR, NLR, and D-D. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to analyze the diagnostic threshold, area under the curve (AUC), diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CAR, NLR and D-D for PTE. Results: 1) CAR, NLR and D-D levels in PTE patients were 2.13 ± 2.08, 8.96 ± 1.94 and 9.69 ± 8.61 respectively, significantly higher than those in control group (CAR = 0.03 ± 0.01, t = 20.7736, P < 0.01;NLR = 1.76 ± 0.53, t = 2.4281, P < 0.05 and PTE = 0.20 ± 0.11, t = 3.0066, P < 0.01 respectively). 2) NLR was positively correlated with CAR (r = 0.2111, t = 4.0971, P < 0.01) and D-D (r = 0.1065, t = 2.0481, P < 0.05), but CAR was not correlated with D-D (r = 0.0975, P > 0.05). 3) The levels of HB, LY, PLT and AT in PTE patients were significantly lower than those in control group, while WBC, NE and FB were significantly higher than those in control group. 4) CAR was negatively correlated with Hb and AT (P all < 0.01), but positively correlated with WBC, NE, MO and FB (P all < 0.01). NLR was negatively correlated with LY and AT (P all < 0.01), but positively correlated with WBC, NE and FB (P all < 0.01). DD was negatively correlated with Hb and PLT (P all < 0.05), but positively correlated with WBC, NE and MO (P all < 0.01). Conclusion: The levels of Hb, LY, PLT and AT were significantly decreased in PTE patients, while WBC, NE and FB were significantly increased. CAR, NLR and D-D were highly expressed in PTE patients, and were closely correlated with Hb, AT and FB. Combined detection of CAR, NLR and D-D can improve the diagnostic value of PTE.

Detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal diseases:A prospective,blind clinical study

BACKGROUND Traditional esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD),an invasive examination method,can cause discomfort and pain in patients.In contrast,magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy(MCE),a noninvasive method,is being applied for the detection of stomach and small intestinal diseases,but its application in treating esophageal diseases is not widespread.AIM To evaluate the safety and efficacy of detachable string MCE(ds-MCE)for the diagnosis of esophageal diseases.METHODS Fifty patients who had been diagnosed with esophageal diseases were pros-pectively recruited for this clinical study and underwent ds-MCE and conven-tional EGD.The primary endpoints included the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for patients with esophageal diseases.The secondary endpoints consisted of visualizing the esophageal and dentate lines,as well as the subjects'tolerance of the procedure.RESULTS Using EGD as the gold standard,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for esophageal disease detection were 85.71%,86.21%,81.82%,89.29%,and 86%,respectively.ds-MCE was more comfortable and convenient than EGD was,with 80%of patients feeling that ds-MCE examination was very comfortable or comfortable and 50%of patients believing that detachable string v examination was very convenient.CONCLUSION This study revealed that ds-MCE has the same diagnostic effects as traditional EGD for esophageal diseases and is more comfortable and convenient than EGD,providing a novel noninvasive method for treating esophageal diseases.

Clinical application value of long non-coding RNAs signatures of genomic instability in predicting prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)presents challenges due to its high recurrence and metastasis rates and poor prognosis.While current clinical diagnostic and prognostic indicators exist,their accuracy remains imperfect due to their biol-ogical complexity.Therefore,there is a quest to identify improved biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis.By combining long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)expression and somatic mutations,Duan et al identified five representative lncRNAs from 88 lncRNAs related to genomic instability(GI),forming a GI-derived lncRNA signature(LncSig).This signature outperforms previously re-ported LncSig and TP53 mutations in predicting HCC prognosis.In this editorial,we comprehensively evaluate the clinical application value of such prognostic evaluation model based on sequencing technology in terms of cost,time,and practicability.Additionally,we provide an overview of various prognostic models for HCC,aiding in a comprehensive understanding of research progress in pro-gnostic evaluation methods.

Value of autopsy in the modern age:Discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnoses

BACKGROUND Autopsy is a medical procedure that consists of the examination of the corpse to determine the cause of death and obtain information on pathological conditions or injuries.In recent years,there has been a reduction in hospital autopsies and an increase in forensic autopsies.AIM To evaluate the utility of autopsy in the modern age and the discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnoses.METHODS A retrospective observational study was conducted on the reports of all 645 hospital autopsies performed at Polyclinic of Bari from 2006 to 2021.RESULTS Group A,2006-2009,174 cases were studied:58%male,58%adults,55%neonatology;pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 23%of cases;and there was a discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis in 55%of cases.Group B,2010-2013,119 cases:52%male,46%infants,48%neonatology;pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 25%of cases;and there was a discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis in 56%of cases.Group C,2014-2017,168 cases:sex equality,37%infants,25%gynecology;pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 24%of cases;and there was a discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis in 58%of cases.Group D,2018-2021,184 cases:56%male,38%adult,32%gynecology;pulmonary disease was the cause of death in 27%of cases;and there was a discrepancy between clinical and autopsy diagnosis in 58%of cases.CONCLUSION The study of hospital autopsies reveals a 56.75%discrepancy between clinical diagnosis and autopsy,highlighting the importance of autopsies,especially for fetal and neonatal diseases,which represent 59%of cases.

Clinical Value of Predictive Nursing Intervention on Deep Venous Thrombosis of Lower Extremities after Cesarean Section

[Objectives]To explore the clinical nursing value of predictive nursing intervention in patients with deep venous thrombosis of lower extremities after cesarean section.[Methods]From December 2022 to April 2023,105 pregnant and lying-in women who were hospitalized in the Gynecology Department of Pingquan Hospital and underwent cesarean section and met the inclusion criteria were included as the study objects.According to the medical records,they were divided into observation group(n=52 cases)and control group(n=53 cases).The clinical experimental subjects were divided into two groups.One group was the control group with routine nursing,and the other group was the observation group with predictive nursing intervention.The number of cases of deep venous thrombosis of lower extremities in the two groups was recorded to evaluate the clinical value.[Results]The incidence of deep venous thrombosis of lower extremities in the two groups after cesarean section was compared,and it was suggested that the incidence of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Special predictive nursing intervention can greatly reduce the incidence of deep venous thrombosis of lower extremities after cesarean section,improve nursing satisfaction,and improve clinical efficacy,which is worthy of recommendation.

Clinical Value of Endodontic Patients Treated with Calcium Hydroxide Preparations

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of endodontics patients treated with calcium hydroxide preparation. Methods: The study cases were selected from the endodontics patients who visited our hospital during the period from January 2022 to December 2023, and 97 cases were randomly selected according to the numerical table method and divided into two groups. There were 49 cases in the control group and 48 cases in the experimental group. The control group received conventional therapy, while the experimental group received treatment with calcium hydroxide preparation, and the clinical value of the two different treatment modalities was observed and analyzed. Results: In the experimental group, 45 out of 48 patients (93.75%) showed effectiveness, compared to 39 out of 49 patients (79.59%) in the control group. The effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Initially, the VAS scores between the two groups were similar (P > 0.05), but after 1 and 3 months of treatment, the scores decreased in both groups. However, the experimental group had a greater decrease, indicating lower pain levels (P < 0.05). The experimental group had fewer complications (8.33%) compared to the control group (24.49%), with a significant difference (P < 0.05). Satisfaction with treatment was higher in the experimental group (95.83%) compared to the control group (95.83%), resulting in an overall higher satisfaction rate in the experimental group (83.67%;P < 0.05). Conclusion: The treatment effect of endodontics with calcium hydroxide preparation is remarkable, which not only can effectively help patients to relieve their pain and reduce the incidence of complications but also plays an important role in improving patients’ satisfaction with treatment, which is worthwhile to be vigorously promoted in the clinic and learn from it.

Study on the Application Value of Liver Function and Serological Index Levels in the Diagnosis of Fatty Liver

Objective:To explore the application value of liver function and serological index detection in diagnosing fatty liver.Methods:Ninety patients with fatty liver disease(disease group)and ninety healthy subjects(healthy group)were selected as the subjects of this study.They all underwent liver function index testing and serological index testing.Test results were compared,and the diagnostic accuracy of single and combined tests was evaluated.Results:Liver function indicators of patients in the disease group were higher than those in the healthy group,with severe patients exhibiting higher levels than moderate patients and mild patients(P<0.05).Serological indicators in patients in the disease group were higher than those in the healthy group,with severe patients showing higher levels than moderate patients and mild patients(P<0.05).The diagnostic accuracy of liver function index testing was higher than that of serological index testing,and the accuracy of combined testing was higher than that of single testing(P<0.05).Conclusion:In diagnosing fatty liver,combining liver function testing and serological testing enables the initial diagnosis of the disease and facilitates the accurate assessment of its severity.

The Senile Brucellosis Spondylitis Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment on as Evaluation Were Retrospectively Analyzed

Objective: To explore senile brucellosis spondylitis clinical features and diagnostic criteria, in order to improve the diagnosis rate and evaluate the clinical effects of treatment strategies. Methods: From January 2002 to August 2015, 62 patients with Brucella-associated spondylitis were treated with comprehensive diagnosis based on epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, imaging findings, laboratory tests, and local biopsy. The positive rate of red plate agglutination test (RBPT) was 45.1%, the positive rate of serum tube agglutination test (SAT) was 51.6%, and the positive rate of brucellosis anti-human immunoglobulin test (Coomb’s) was 100%. All patients underwent X-ray, CT and MRI examinations. The positive rate of blood culture in pathogenic examination was 16.1%, and the positive rate of bone marrow culture was 38.5%. The positive rate of inflammatory granuloma or abscess in the lesion sampling culture was 73.6%. All patients underwent standardized drug therapy and hyperbaric oxygen adjuvant therapy. Among them, 38 patients with neurological impairment were treated with one-stage debridement and posterior pedicle screw fixation on the basis of drug therapy. The paraspinal abscess and the diseased in-tervertebral space tissue were taken for pathological examination during the operation. One week, two weeks, one month, three months, six months and 12 months after treatment, the patients were evaluated and followed up at the monitoring sites. The evaluation indicators were pain scores, activity of daily living (ADL), imaging findings, and laboratory tests. The SPSS15.0 statistical package was used for analysis. Results: All patients were confirmed by the above-mentioned comprehensive examination after admission. 24 patients (38.71%) were treated with standard drug therapy (group A), no adverse drug reactions and abnormal liver and kidney function;the remaining 38 patients (61.29%) were combined with varying degrees of neurological impairment, and surgical treatment was performed after 2 to 4 weeks of drug therapy without improvement (group B). The pain scores showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups at the same time point (P Conclusion: The senile Brucellosis spondylitis has a characteristic performance. The de-velopment of diagnostic criteria can help to improve the diagnostic rate. Standardized drug treatment has a good cure rate. The implementation of surgery has obvious advantages whether it is to relieve pain, stabilize the spine, restore nerve function, or recover early.

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AGAINST ALDOLASE-A IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATO-CELLULAR CARCINOMA

Serum ALD-A of 57 patients with HCC and 43 of other diseases were measured by ALD-A-McAb linked with 425I-staphylococcus A protein. The results showed that the ALD-A in patient with HCC was significantly elevated as compared with controls and that in patients with cholangiocarcinoma, gastrointestinal cancer without hepatic metastasis, cirrhosis. CAH and benign GI diseases. There was no statistical difference between ALD-A in patients with HCC and that in cases of cirrhosis with liver failure and that in cases of metastatic liver carcinoma. It was noted that diagnostic sensitivity of ALD-A in AFP (+) HCC was 73.9% and that in AFP (-) HCC was 81.8% 1-6 patients with HCC were treated by hepatic arterial embolization combined with chemotherapy. ALD-A in patients after the treatment decreased significantly than that before treatment, furthermore, advantages of the method are discussed.

Movement analysis in the diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease

Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease:Parkinson’s disease(PD)is an increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative disease,at first sight primarily characterized by motor symptoms,although non-motor symptoms also constitute a major part of the overall phenotype.Clinically,this disease cannot be diagnosed reliably until a large part of the vulnerable dopaminergic neurons has been irretrievably lost,and the disease progresses inexorably.New biological criteria for PD have been proposed recently and might eventually improve early diagnosis,but they require further validation,and their use will initially be restricted to a research environment(Darweesh et al.,2024).

Clinical Application and Pharmaceutical Values of Levant Cotton Root

Levant cotton root is a folk traditional herb with a long history in China. This article gave a brief introduction on recent research work related to main com- position, pharmacologic effect and clinical application of levant cotton root and pro- posed existing problems and countermeasures for pharmaceutical industrialization.

Clinical application of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound in evaluating the preoperative T staging of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound(OCEUS)is widely used in the noninvasive diagnosis and screening of gastric cancer(GC)in China.AIM To investigate the clinical application of OCEUS in evaluating the preoperative T staging of gastric cancer.METHODS OCEUS was performed before the operation,and standard ultrasound images were retained.The depth of infiltration of GC(T-stage)was evaluated according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition of the tumor-nodemetastasis staging criteria.Finally,with postoperative pathological staging as the gold standard reference,the sensitivity,specificity,negative predictive value,positive predictive value,and diagnostic value of OCEUS T staging were evaluated.RESULTS OCEUS achieved diagnostic accuracy rates of 76.6%(T1a),69.6%(T1b),62.7%(T2),60.8%(T3),88.0%(T4a),and 88.7%(T4b),with an average of 75.5%.Ultrasonic T staging sensitivity exceeded 62%,aside from T1b at 40.3%,while specificity was over 91%,except for T3 with 83.5%.The Youden index was above 60%,with T1b and T2 being exceptions.OCEUS T staging corresponded closely with pathology in T4b(kappa>0.75)and moderately in T1a,T1b,T2,T3,and T4a(kappa 0.40-0.75),registering a concordance rate exceeding 84%.CONCLUSION OCEUS was effective,reliable,and accurate in diagnosing the preoperative T staging of GC.As a noninvasive diagnostic technique,OCEUS merits clinical popularization.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome:Clinical features,pathophysiology,diagnosis and treatment strategies

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an uncommon benign disease, characterized by a combination of symptoms, clinical findings and histological abnormalities. Ulcers are only found in 40% of the patients; 20% of the patients have a solitary ulcer, and the rest of the lesions vary in shape and size, from hyperemic mucosa to broad-based polypoid. Men and women are affected equally, with a small predominance in women. SRUS has also been described in children and in the geriatric population. Clinical features include rectal bleeding, copious mucus discharge, prolonged excessive straining, perineal and abdominal pain, feeling of incomplete defecation, constipation, and rarely, rectal prolapse. This disease has well-described histopathological features such as obliteration of the lamina propria by fibrosis and smooth muscle fibers extending from a thickened muscularis mucosa to the lumen. Diffuse collage deposition in the lamina propria and abnormal smooth muscle fiber extensions are sensitive markers for differ-entiating SRUS from other conditions. However, the etiology remains obscure, and the condition is frequently associated with pelvic floor disorders. SRUS is difficult to treat, and various treatment strategies have been advocated, ranging from conservative management to a variety of surgical procedures. The aim of the present review is to summarize the clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods and treatment strategies associated with SRUS. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma:Clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis

BACKGROUND Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma(HEHE)is a rare hepatic vascular tumor with unpredictable malignant potential.The etiology,characteristics,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of HEHE are not well-understood,and largescale retrospective studies are required to understand better this disease.AIM To determine the characteristics of HEHE and identify its optimal treatments and prognostic factors.METHODS The clinical data of two patients diagnosed with HEHE at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University and 258 previously reported cases retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and PubMed databases between 1996 and 2021 were combined and summarized.All cases were pathologically identified as HEHE.Information such as clinical features,laboratory examination findings,imaging findings,pathological characteristics,treatment,and survival periods was reviewed.Kaplan-Meir curves were used for survival analysis.Prognostic factors were identified by Cox regression analysis.RESULTS HEHE primarily affected middle-aged women.The typical manifestations included epigastric pain,hepatosplenomegaly,inappetence,distension,weight loss,and fatigue.Tumor markers were expressed normally.The incidence of extrahepatic metastasis was 34.5% at the time of diagnosis.The most common sites of extrahepatic involvement were the lungs(22.3%),lymph nodes(5.6%),peritoneum(3.6%),bones(6.6%),and spleen(5.1%).Furthermore,“capsular retraction”,“target sign”,and“lollipop sign”were the characteristic features of HEHE on imaging.The immunohistochemical profile for HEHE(expression of vascular markers,such as factor VIII-related antigen,CD31,and CD34;expression levels of D2-40)can facilitate and ensure an accurate diagnosis.The management options for patients with HEHE include liver resection(29.7%),liver transplantation(16.1%),palliative treatments(12.7%),transhepatic arterial chemotherapy and embolization(TACE,10.2%),chemotherapy(11.0%),antiangiogenic therapy(15.3%),and other treatments(5.1%);the mean survival time was 158.6,147.3,4.2,90.8,71.4,83.1,and 55.0 mo,respectively.The survival time of patients who underwent surgical treatment was longer than that of patients who did not.TACE and antiangiogenic therapy tended to prolong survival compared with other nonsurgical treatments.The 1-,5-,and 10-year survival rates were 82%,71%,and 64%,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that liver function(P=0.045),intrahepatic metastasis(P=0.029),and treatment(P=0.045)were independent prognostic factors.The presence of extrahepatic metastases was not an independent risk factor for poor prognosis(P=0.558).CONCLUSION The clinical course of HEHE is rare and variable,and patients with intrahepatic metastases and liver dysfunction may have a poorer prognosis than those without.Surgical intervention,whether liver resection or transplantation,might be warranted regardless of extrahepatic metastasis.For patients without the option for surgery,clinicians should consider the use of TACE with antiangiogenic drugs in the treatment of HEHE.

Biological roles and potential clinical values of circular RNAs in gastrointestinal malignancies

Circular RNAs(circ RNAs),a class of endogenous RNA molecules,are produced by alternative splicing of precursor RNA and are covalently linked at the 5′and 3′ends.Recent studies have revealed that dysregulated circ RNAs are closely related to the occurrence and progression of gastrointestinal malignancies.Accumulating evidence indicates that circ RNAs,including circ PVT1,circ LARP4,circ-SFMBT2,cir-ITCH,circ RNA_100782,circ_100395,circ-DONSON,hsa_circ_0001368,circ NRIP1,circ FAT1(e2),circ CCDC66,circ SMARCA5,circ-ZNF652,and circ_0030235 play important roles in the proliferation,differentiation,invasion,and metastasis of cancer cells through a variety of mechanisms,such as acting as micro RNA sponges,interacting with RNA-binding proteins,regulating gene transcription and alternative splicing,and being translated into proteins.With the characteristics of high abundance,high stability,extensive functions,and certain tissue-,time-and diseasespecific expressions,circ RNAs are expected to provide novel perspectives for the diagnoses and treatments of gastrointestinal malignancies.

Guidelines and standards for comprehensive clinical diagnosis and interventional treatment for diabetic foot in China(Issue 7.0)

Diabetic foot(DF)is one of the most common complications of diabetes and is associated with high morbidity,disability,lethality and low cure-rate.The clinical diagnosis and treatment of DF need to be standardized.The Chinese Diabetic Foot Cell and Interventional Therapy Technology Alliance has released six editions of guidelines and standards for clinical diagnosis and interventional treatment of DF,which filled the gap in the domestic DF treatment standard and played an important role in improving the level of diagnosis and treatment in China.In line with the latest developments in diagnosis and treatment,the Alliance,along with other 89 institutions,developed and issued the new edition based on the sixth edition to help standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of DF in China.

Clinical Characteristics,Diagnosis,and Therapeutics of COVID-19:A Review

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)that suddenly emerged at the end of December 2019 and caused coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)continues to afflict humanity,not only seriously affecting healthcare systems but also leading to global social and economic imbalances.As of August 2022,there were approximately 580 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and approximately 6.4 million confirmed deaths due to this disease.The data are sufficient to highlight the seriousness of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Although most patients with COVID-19 present primarily with respiratory symptoms,an increasing number of extrapulmonary systemic symptoms and manifestations have been associated with COVID-19.Since the outbreak of COVID-19,much has been learned about the disease and its causative agent.Therefore,great effort has been aimed at developing treatments and drug interventions to treat and reduce the incidence of COVID-19.In this narrative review,we provide a brief overview of the epidemiology,mechanisms,clinical manifestations,diagnosis,and therapeutics of COVID-19.

A pan-cancer analysis of the biological function and clinical value of BTLA in tumors

B and T-lymphocyte attenuator(BTLA)plays an immunosuppressive role by inhibiting T-and B-cell functions.BTLA is associated with a variety of diseases,especially cancer immunity.However,the function of BTLA in various cancers and its clinical prognostic value have still not been comprehensively analyzed.This study aimed to identify the relationship between BTLA and cancer from the perspectives of differences in BTLA expression,its clinical value,immune infiltration,and the correlation with immune-related genes in various cancers.Data regarding mRNA expression,miRNA expression,lncRNA expression,and clinical data of patients of 33 existing cancers were collected from the TCGA database.Target miRNA of BTLA and the lncRNA that interacts with the target miRNA were obtained from the StarBase database.Based on bioinformatics analysis methods,the relationship between various types of cancers and BTLA was thoroughly investigated,and a competing endogenous RNA network of BTLA,target miRNA,and interacting lncRNA was constructed.The Kaplan-Meier(KM)prognostic analysis of BTLA and target miRNA(has-miR-137)in various types of cancers was completed using the KM plotter.BTLA expression varied in different cancers,with statistical significance in nine cancer types.KM plotter to analyze the overall survival(OS)and regression-free survival prognosis of cancer patients revealed that the BTLA expression was statistically different in the OS of 11 types of cancers out of 21 types of cancers;the OS of 8 type of cancers was also statistically different.Correlation analysis of tumor immune genes revealed a positive correlation of BTLA expression with immunosuppressive gene(CTLA4 and PDCD1)expression.Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that BTLA and its co-expressed genes mainly act through biological processes and pathways,including immune response regulation,cell surface receptor signaling pathway,antigen binding,antigen receptor-mediated signaling pathway,and leukocyte migration.BTLA has the potential as a prognostic marker for CLL,COAD,NSCLC,and OV and a diagnostic marker for CLL,COAD,and KIRC.BTLA has a close and complex relationship with the occurrence and development of tumors,and cancer immunotherapy for BTLA is worthy of further analysis.

Role of optical spectroscopy using endogenous contrasts in clinical cancer diagnosis

Optical spectroscopy has been intensively studied for cancer management in the past two decades.This review paper first introduces the background of optical spectroscopy for cancer management,which includes the advantages of optical techniques compared to other established techniques,the principle of optical spectroscopy and the typical setup of instrumentation.Then the recent progress in optical spectroscopy for cancer diagnosis in the following organs is reviewed:the brain,breast,cervix,lung,stomach,colon,prostate and the skin.Reviewed papers were selected from the PubMed database with keywords combining the terms of individual optical spectroscopy techniques and cancers.The primary focus is on the in vivo applications of optical spectroscopy in clinical studies.Ex vivo studies are also included for some organs to highlight special applications or when there are few in vivo results in the literature.Practical considerations of applying optical spectroscopy in clinical settings such as the speed,cost,complexity of operation,accuracy and clinical value are discussed.A few commercially available clinical instruments that are based on optical spectroscopy techniques are presented.Finally several technical challenges and standard issues are discussed and firm conclusions are made.