Fiber optic near-infrared Raman spectroscopy for clinical noninvasive determination of water content in diseased skin and assessment of cutaneous edema

Currently, measuring Raman spectra of tissues of living patients online and in real time, collecting the spectra in a very short measurement time, and allowing diagnosis immediately after the spectrum is recorded from any body region, are specific advantages that fiber optic near-infrared Raman spectroscopy (NIR RS) might represent for in vivo clinical applications in dermatology. We discuss various methodological aspects and state of the art of fiber optic NIR RS in clinical and experimental dermatology to outline its present advantages and disadvantages for measuring skin in vivo, particularly its water content. Fiber optic NIR Fourier transform (FT) RS has been introduced to dermatological diagnostics to obtain information regarding the molecular composition of the skin up to several hundred micrometers below the skin surface in a relatively fast nondestructive manner. This has been especially important for probing for in vivo assessment of cutaneous (intradermal) edema in patients patch test reactions. Fiber optic NIR FT Raman spectrometers still require further technological developments and optimization, extremely accurate water concentration determination and its intensity calculation in skin tissue, and for clinical applications, a reduction of measurement time and their size. Another promising option could be the possibility of applying mobile and compact fiber optic charge-coupled device (CCD)-based equipment in clinical dermatology. (c) 2005 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.