'Skinometer' can detect skin cancer that's invisible to the human eye

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07/15/23

The world's first scanner capable of detecting carcinoma invisible to the human eye has been invented to enhance diagnosis and speed up surgery.

The aim of the "Skinometer" - developed by scientists at Warwick University - is to detect how far the cancer has spread beneath the skin.

Skin cancer patients being treated at University Hospital Coventry are now being encouraged to require part in testing of the technology.

Professor Joe Hardwicke, a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the hospital, says the event is "very exciting".

He explained: "Some skin cancers is below the skin that we will not actually see, so after we do remove them surgically, occasionally a touch bit is left behind.

"The hope with this technology is that we are able to be more accurate in our surgery and take away more of the cancers on the primary occasion."

Currently, multiple skin samples must be taken and examined during a procedure to create sure all the cancer cells are removed - but using the skin scanner should significantly reduce surgery times.

In 2013, Heather Norgrove found an unusual white lump on her upper arm. it absolutely was removed, but six months later it absolutely was back and greater than before.

Only then was she diagnosed with invasive melanoma that had to be cut out, and a skin was required.

"If we had had a scanner, it'd have indicated that was an issue immediately," she said.

"We would have known there was a good chance that it had been malignant, it had burst inwards and thus underneath it had been much bigger than on top."

Importantly, she says the scanner would have prevented the "long, awful wait" for diagnosis and treatment could have started sooner.

The Skinometer uses pulses of sunshine from the terahertz a part of the sunshine spectrum, which strike the skin's surface and bounce off.

The waveforms of the reflected showing how far the cancer has spread beneath the skin.

Professor Emma MacPherson from Warwick University's academic department is leading the project.

"We're collecting the primary data within the world to do and show that this can work which we will really speed up cancer diagnosis and treatment times," she said.

"There are about 16,000 new cases of carcinoma diagnosed within the UK alone every year which obviously puts a strain on the NHS, so if we will speed up the method... that's visiting relieve lots of pressure and reduce costs for the NHS."

She hopes the Skinometer can be in use within five years and eventually be available in GP surgeries.

There's a possibility it could help detect carcinoma too.

And by accurately measuring the moisture levels, it is also hoped it may well be accustomed develop specific sun creams for various kinds of skin.

For Heather, it'd have made all the difference. She's been through extensive treatment after her cancer spread.

Now, she says it's "imperative" carcinoma patients volunteer to require part within the research so others may be helped within the future.

The project has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, with additional support from Cancer Research UK.

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