Biopsies could soon be done by laser
Tuesday 1st February 2011
Doctors may soon have laser technology that will allow biopsies to be performed painlessly.
Scientists at Michigan State University are developing laser microscopes that will be able to deploy rapid pulses to identify molecules.
This could mean that instead of a traditional biopsy involving the cutting away of skin and sending to a lab for testing, doctors could scan a problem area and know the results on the spot.
"We can shape the pulse of the lasers, excite one compound or another based on their vibrational signatures, and this gives us excellent contrast," said Marcos Dantus, who co-authored the study.
This comes after the Food and Drug Administration in the USA warned that saline and silicone breast implants are linked to anaplastic large cell lymphoma, after significantly more cases of the cancer were found in women who had undergone breast augmentation surgery.
Written by Angela Newbury
Related articles
Cancer risk can be increased by snoring
Snoring has been highlighted as an unlikely cause for increasing the risk of cancer, new research has revealed. A team from the...
Monday 21st May 2012
National falls strategy could reduce incidents by...
A strategy between health authorities across the UK could help reduce the problem of falls in the elderly. The NHS Confederation&...
Thursday 10th May 2012
Persistent cough could be a sign of lung cancer
Having a persistent cough could be a sign that a person has lung cancer, according to a new advertising campaign from the...
Tuesday 8th May 2012
Related Hospital-Doctors Jobs
Locum Consultant Job in Kent area We are looking for an experienced and registered locum Consultant to join a busy respiratory...
Full infoLocum General Practitioner required for an on-going job in London.Mediplacements are recruiting for a experienced locum...
Full infoLocum REGISTRAR in GENERAL MEDICINELocum REGISTRAR in GENERAL MEDICINE Job to earn up to £60 per hour dependant on experience...
Full info