Background and objective: There is no ideal method to detect molecular changes in situ of laser-irradiated tissue without removing a section of tissue for histologic examination. A new method is reported to evaluate laser-induced thermal tissue damage in situ by using 380-nm native fluorescence imaging under 340-nm excitation.
Study design/materials and methods: Native fluorescence imaging was performed on laser irradiated bovine tendon tissue and compared with light illuminated photography and histology with picrosirius red F3BA stain.
Results and conclusion: The results indicate that a decrease in collagen fluorescence at 380 nm was observed in laser-induced thermally damaged tissues. The injured region of tissue defined by its fluorescence image coincided with an area defined by photography and histology.
Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.