A technique that could be used to distinguish between benign and malignant stomach ulcers has been developed by scientists from Singapore, as reported by Chemistry World.
Now, Zhiwei Huang and colleagues at the National University of Singapore and National University Hospital have developed an endoscopy probe that analyzes tissue using Raman spectroscopy. "The development of a non-invasive optical diagnostic technique to complement current endoscopic imaging techniques would represent a significant advance, improving early diagnosis of gastric cancer and precancer," says Huang.
The team tested the probe on a number of patients and found that significant Raman spectral differences between benign and malignant tissue can be delivered. "This work demonstrates the technical feasibility and clinical potential of using an endoscopy Raman probe for in-vivo detection of malignant ulcers," says Haishan Zeng, an expert in analyzing tissue samples at the British Columbia Cancer Research Center in Canada.
Huang hopes that the technique can provide diagnostic information that will give new insights into the biochemical and architectural changes of benign and malignant gastric ulcers, improving in-vivo differentiation. The team now aims to develop the technique to look at other internal organs.
Source: Chemistry World
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Posted by Lee Mather
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