Avoid Multiple Breast Cancer Surgeries by Terahertz Imaging

Filed in archive Diagnostics on April 26, 2006

As introduced in the May issue of Radiology, there is a promising new technique that will ensure complete removal of tumors in breast cancer incisions. This new technique makes use of light waves in a newly explored region of electromagnetic spectrum called the terahertz region in examining excised breast tissue to determine if the removed tissue margins were clear of cancer. This new technology does the examination with good results and has the potential to eliminate the need for multiple surgeries.

"We found that terahertz light could reliably distinguish between normal breast tissue, tumor and even early-stage 'in situ' cancers in excised tissue samples," said Vincent P. Wallace, Ph.D., lead investigator at TeraView, who worked with Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England, in conducting the study. "This technology could aid the surgeon in immediately identifying residual cancer after the main tumor has been removed, thus minimizing the need for additional surgical procedures."

At present, after breast cancer surgery, the excised tissue samples are sent for histopathologic examination that usually takes several days before completion. Therefore, the surgeons have no idea if the entire tumor has been removed until well after the surgical procedure has been completed. This usually leads to repeat surgeries to be scheduled. This setback will however be eliminated by terahertz imaging by allowing the surgeon to analyze tissue samples during the initial excision procedure.

Read more at the RSNA News Release or get the paper's abstract.