New optical scanner ‘could aid real-time breast cancer screening’

Researchers have developed a new handheld optical scanner with the potential to offer real-time imaging of breast cancer.

Developed by Florida International University, the device uses a near-infrared laser diode source to produce an image of the breast tissues in a way that is more adaptable to breast shape and density than conventional techniques.

It also allows imaging of the chest wall regions to be carried out more easily, building an image of the tissue by mapping the optical absorption, which is altered by the concentration of haemoglobin.

Regions with higher concentrations of haemoglobin may indicate higher blood flow due to an abnormality, such as a tumour. This method offers several benefits over mammography, with no ionising radiation dose and fewer issues imaging dense tissues.

Sarah Erickson-Bhatt, an author on the paper, said: "The women scanned always commented on how comfortable it was to be scanned by our device – many of them said that they didn't feel anything."

The team is now working on mathematical tools to process the images and produce 3D tomographic images, in order to determine tumour size and depth.