Non-invasive scanner can diagnose skin cancer early
Rhoda Alani, adjunct professor at Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, and Cila Herman, professor of mechanical engineering at Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering, have recently initiated a pilot study on the accuracy of a newly-invented noninvasive scanning system to detect melanoma.
Melanoma is the most malignant form of skin cancer. It occurs when melanocytes, which are pigment cells responsible for the production of the melanin that gives color to skin, hair and eyes, begin dividing uncontrollably. Like other forms of cancer, melanoma can spread, or metastasize, to other areas of the body.
Early signs of melanoma are often subtle, such as a change in shape or color of existing moles or an appearance of a new one. Cancerous moles tend to be asymmetrical, have ragged borders, include different colors and change in size. Although most are dark colored, some may appear pink or yellow. Furthermore, the mole may itch or bleed. Metastasizing cells could also cause appetite loss, nausea and fatigue.
Despite extensive research, dermatologists are still relying on gross inspection of apparent disparities for early diagnosis of melanoma. Characteristics of moles, including size, shape and color are subjective and often misleading. As a result, melanoma is often discovered at late stages, or invasive procedures (biopsy) must be used for diagnosis.
Recently, the Hopkins research team developed a prototype system that aims to detect cancerous skin cells via temperature differences between healthy and tumor tissues.
Cancer cells have higher metabolic rates and release more energy than normal cells because they divide more rapidly and uncontrollably. However, normally the energy difference is too small to be detected.
Alani and Herman tried to overcome this by first cooling the patient's skin with compressed air, and then quickly recording infrared images of the skin area as it warms for the following two to three minutes. Cancer cells would theoretically reheat faster, and this difference can be noted and analyzed.
Currently, the research team is conducting a pilot study on the sensitivity and accuracy of the system on 50 patients. Identified lesions are first scanned with the newly developed infrared system. The results are then compared to a biopsy to confirm it is melanoma.
By giving an objective criterion for the malignancy of a lesion, skin cancer diagnoses could be made with more certainty and at an earlier stage.
The researchers foresee developing a hand-held instrument dermatologists can use to confirm their diagnosis and perhaps even a full-body-scanning system for larger areas. The development of the system is protected under Hopkins copyright.
Melanoma is the most malignant form of skin cancer. It occurs when melanocytes, which are pigment cells responsible for the production of the melanin that gives color to skin, hair and eyes, begin dividing uncontrollably. Like other forms of cancer, melanoma can spread, or metastasize, to other areas of the body.
Early signs of melanoma are often subtle, such as a change in shape or color of existing moles or an appearance of a new one. Cancerous moles tend to be asymmetrical, have ragged borders, include different colors and change in size. Although most are dark colored, some may appear pink or yellow. Furthermore, the mole may itch or bleed. Metastasizing cells could also cause appetite loss, nausea and fatigue.
Despite extensive research, dermatologists are still relying on gross inspection of apparent disparities for early diagnosis of melanoma. Characteristics of moles, including size, shape and color are subjective and often misleading. As a result, melanoma is often discovered at late stages, or invasive procedures (biopsy) must be used for diagnosis.
Recently, the Hopkins research team developed a prototype system that aims to detect cancerous skin cells via temperature differences between healthy and tumor tissues.
Cancer cells have higher metabolic rates and release more energy than normal cells because they divide more rapidly and uncontrollably. However, normally the energy difference is too small to be detected.
Alani and Herman tried to overcome this by first cooling the patient's skin with compressed air, and then quickly recording infrared images of the skin area as it warms for the following two to three minutes. Cancer cells would theoretically reheat faster, and this difference can be noted and analyzed.
Currently, the research team is conducting a pilot study on the sensitivity and accuracy of the system on 50 patients. Identified lesions are first scanned with the newly developed infrared system. The results are then compared to a biopsy to confirm it is melanoma.
By giving an objective criterion for the malignancy of a lesion, skin cancer diagnoses could be made with more certainty and at an earlier stage.
The researchers foresee developing a hand-held instrument dermatologists can use to confirm their diagnosis and perhaps even a full-body-scanning system for larger areas. The development of the system is protected under Hopkins copyright.
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