A special type of light widely emitted from nuclear reactors could be a low-cost, reliable method for detecting tumors in the body, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. The forward-imaging technique uses Cerenkov radiation, which usually glows light blue. This glow can be used to highlight exactly where tumors are in a patient.
Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) uses the light produced when charged particles moving faster than the speed of light pass through a medium (in this case, human tissue) and radioisotope probes in the target tissue are detected by a camera. It gives rise to detectable light. Previously, this imaging method has been problematic due to its low light output and poor resolution, but researchers believe they can produce a viable method using a variety of different probes and a closed field around the imaged tissue.
Researchers suggest that CLI may offer a cheaper and faster alternative to PET scans that can be used in conjunction with standard care scans, particularly in areas that cannot accommodate multiple PET systems. They say it’s possible to cost a CLI system just $125,000, while a PET/CT system costs $1.5 million.
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