Near-infrared spectroscopic detection of human colon diverticulitis: A pilot study

We have investigated the application of near-infrared spectroscopy for the detection of human colon diverticulitis. A total of 72 diverticulitis spectra and 73 normal spectra were collected from 24 diverticula and normal tissue regions of electively resected colon sigma specimens of eight patients suffering from recurrent diverticulitis. Major spectral differences were observed in the CH stretching first (6000–5550 cm−1) and second overtone (8700–8000 cm−1) regions. Cluster analysis of the spectra collected from diverticulitis and normal tissue regions allowed discrimination of the spectra with an accuracy of 93%. All spectra from the normal tissues and 62 (86.1%) spectra from diverticulitis tissues were correctly classified. Our preliminary findings constitute a novel diagnostic approach and suggest that NIR spectroscopy can be applied for the detection of human colon diverticulitis during surgery.