Ultrasound and Laser Light in Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer
February 19, 2019 | Terry Sharrer
Late stage ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate; so, early detection is the key to saving lives. Knowing that ovaries developing tumors have extensive blood vessels in their bed and lower blood oxygen saturation, researchers at Washington University of St. Louis have combined ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging to detect ovarian tumors. “[They] designed a specialized vaginal probe with a sheath containing laser-connected optical fibers that wrap around an ultrasound probe. Using the probe in a pilot study involving 16 patients, the researchers found hallmark increases in angiogenic markers and reductions in blood oxygen saturation in a common type of ovarian tumor, including early stage tumors.” MORE WITH VIDEO
Image Credit: Washington University of St. Louis