Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a laser probe that can identify early-stage oral cancer and locate tumour edges during surgery.
The probe stimulates the patient’s tissue molecules, which respond by re-emitting fluorescent light.
The laser analyses this emitted light using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the types of molecules present.
Surgeons can also use changes in fluorescence to locate the edges of a tumour during surgery.
A study involving nine people at the University of California Davis Medical Center showed that the laser probe could accurately diagnose cancer.
Details of the study have been published in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
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