About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

T-rays may Diagnose Cancer at Its Earliest and Treatable Stages

by Bidita Debnath on September 14, 2013 at 11:03 PM
Font : A-A+

 T-rays may Diagnose Cancer at Its Earliest and Treatable Stages

A scientist revealed that the technology that peeks underneath clothing at airport security screening check points has great potential for looking underneath human skin to diagnose cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.

The report on efforts to use terahertz radiation — "T-rays" — in early diagnosis of skin cancer was part of the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. Almost 7,000 reports on new advances in science and other topics are on the schedule for the meeting. It continues here through Thursday in the Indiana Convention Center and downtown hotels.

Advertisement

Anis Rahman, Ph.D., who spoke on the topic, explained that malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, starts in pigment-producing cells located in the deepest part of the epidermis. That's the outer layer of the skin. Biochemical changes that are hallmarks of cancer occur in the melanocytes long before mole-like melanomas appear on the skin.

"Terahertz radiation is ideal for looking beneath the skin and detecting early signs of melanoma," Rahman said. "T-rays are different from X-rays, which are 'ionizing' radiation that can cause damage. T-rays are a form of 'non-ionizing' radiation, like ordinary visible light, but they can be focused harmlessly below into the body and capture biochemical signatures of events like the start of cancer."
Advertisement

T-rays occupy a niche in the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, which includes X-rays and visible light, between microwaves like those used in kitchen ovens and the infrared rays used in TV remote controls. One of the advantages of T-rays is that they penetrate only a few millimeters through cloth, skin and other non-metallic material. Ten sheets of printer paper would be about 1 millimeter thick. This key characteristic has led to their use in quality control in the pharmaceutical industry to check the surface integrity of pills and capsules, in homeland security to remotely frisk underneath clothes, and as a non-destructive way of probing beneath the top layers of famous paintings and other culturally significant artwork.

Rahman, president and chief technology officer of Applied Research & Photonics in Harrisburg, Pa., said that medical imaging is one of their newest and most promising potential uses. He described research focusing T-rays through donated samples of human skin that suggest the technology could be valuable in diagnosing melanoma.

In addition to developing T-rays for cancer diagnostics, Rahman's team has successfully harnessed them to measure the real-time absorption rates and penetration in the outer layer of skin of topically applied drugs and shampoo — measurements that until now had not been possible.

Other wide-ranging applications include the detection of early stages of tooth decay, trace pesticides on produce, flaws in pharmaceutical tablet coatings, and concealed weapons under clothing, as well as testing the effectiveness of skin cosmetics. Rahman's talk was part of a symposium entitled "Terahertz Spectroscopy: Problem Solving for the 21st Century," being held at the ACS meeting. Abstracts of those talks appear below.

Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Research News

 Blind People Feel Their Heartbeat Better Than Those With Sight
Brain plasticity following blindness leads to superior ability in sensing signals from the heart, which has implications for bodily awareness and emotional processing.
New Biomarkers Help Detect Alzheimer's Disease Early
A group of scientists were awarded £1.3 million to create a new “point of care testing” kit that detects Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
Bone Health and Dementia: Establishing a Link
Is there a connection between Osteoporosis and dementia? Yes, loss in bone density may be linked to an increased risk of dementia in older age.
Is Telomere Shortening a Sign of Cellular Aging?
Link between chromosome length and biological aging marker discovered. The finding helps explain why people with longer telomeres have a lower dementia risk.
Why Is Integrated Structural Biology Important for Cystic Fibrosis?
Integrated structural biology helps discover how the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) works.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

T-rays may Diagnose Cancer at Its Earliest and Treatable Stages Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests