Infrared light instrument, x-ray imaging may improve optical mammography
A newly developed imaging instrument which may improve the sensitivity of optical mammography will be shown by Italian researchers at the OSA Biophotonics Congress: Biomedical Optics meeting this April in Hollywood, Florida, according to a press release from the Optical Society.
Optical imaging is ideal in conjunction with x-rays to diagnose or monitor areas of the body that should avoid high exposure to ionizing radiation while providing efficient and accurate information and potential for use in pre-surgical chemotherapy.
“This technique (optical mammography) is able to provide information on the outcome of chemotherapy just weeks after beginning treatment, or possibly even sooner," said co-author Edoardo Ferocino, PhD, from the Polytechnic University of Milan in Milan, Italy, according to a prepared statement.
The new instrument will increase the sensitivity of optical mammography by as much as 1,000-fold, according to the press release, and can measure blood volume, oxygenation or collagen content in areas suspicious of breast cancer initially indicated by an x-ray exam. According to the release, the instrument replaces two photomultiplier tubes of existing instruments with an eight-channel probe containing silicon photomultipliers and a multichannel time-to-digital converter.
Find the full release below:
A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.