Pancreatic Cancer

Gastrointestinal researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL have used an endoscope, fitted with a special light source, to detect pancreatic cancer—100% in a small study!  The light source is called polarization gating spectroscopy and it works by measuring oxygenated blood and the size of blood vessels near the junction with the pancreatic duct.  When cancer is present, the endoscope picks up a light signal as far as 11 inches from the tumor, growing stronger the closer it gets. This minimally invasive approach is an alternative to imaging and biopsy.  MORE

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