Revolutionary handheld scanner could change cancer and arthritis diagnosis

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Researchers in the UK, led by Professor Paul Beard from UCL Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, have developed a new handheld scanner that could revolutionize the diagnosis of cancer and arthritis. This scanner, using photoacoustic tomography (PAT), creates detailed 3D images of tissues within seconds. Unlike older technologies, which take several minutes and often require patients to stay completely still, this new device provides real-time imaging, significantly reducing the risk of motion blurring. This breakthrough could enable faster and more accurate diagnoses, especially for conditions like inflammatory arthritis, which requires scanning multiple joints.

One of the most promising aspects of the scanner is its potential for use in diagnosing and monitoring cancer. By visualizing small blood vessels within tumours, which are often too small to detect using conventional imaging techniques, the scanner could help doctors detect cancer earlier and monitor its progression. The device could also assist surgeons by distinguishing tumour tissue from healthy tissue, reducing the risk of leaving cancerous cells behind during surgery.

In a recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the scanner was tested on patients with type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and breast cancer. The results showed that it could accurately produce 3D images of areas affected by these conditions, such as low blood flow in diabetic patients' feet and skin inflammation associated with breast cancer. With further testing, researchers hope the scanner could be used in clinical settings within the next few years to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.