Development of a Portable Intraoral Camera and a Smartphone Application for Oral Cancer PDT Treatment Guidance and Monitoring

Oral cancer presents a public health crisis, particularly in regions where widespread use of tobacco, betel quid and acacia extract lead to disproportionately high incidences of oral malignancies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown to work efficiently in early-stage oral cancer lesions; however, physicians require a method capable of assisting them during therapy delivery, so treatments can be more effective. Several studies explore how to take advantage of photosensitized fluorescent lesions to perform imaging with the purpose of guiding and monitoring patients undergoing PDT; however, these streamlined systems for intraoral PDT treatment guidance and monitoring are needed in order for this approach to achieve optimal outcomes. This paper proposes the development of a smartphone application capable of processing images taken with an endoscopy camera directly connected to the device. PDT guidance and monitoring can be simplified, and treatment could be delivered more efficiently, increasing the chance of achieving a complete tumor response.