blood oxygen sensor attached to endoscope identifies pancreatic cancer -
An optical blood oxygen sensor attached to an endoscope is able to identify the pancreatic cancer patients through a simple procedure lendoscopic, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Florida
the study, published in GIE :. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy , shows that the device, which acts as the type of finger clip clothespin well known used to measure blood oxygen patients, a sensitivity of 92 percent and a specificity of 86 percent
MEDIA ALERT: .. video and audio are available for download on the Mayo Clinic News Network
this means that, of 100 patients with pancreatic cancer, this sensor would detect 92 of between them, based on the findings. And 100 patients who did not have pancreatic cancer, the test would be to identify correctly 86 percent of the time.
The device measures changes in blood flow in tissue that are near the pancreas, under the theory that tumors alter the flow of blood flow in the surrounding tissue, since tumors require oxygen to grow. The endoscope is inserted into the stomach and the duodenum, where the measurements are taken. The pancreas is located just outside the duodenum.
"Although this is a small pilot study, the results are very promising. There is no test available now that can accurately identify pancreatic cancer at an early stage, short of deleting some of the body, "says researcher and principal gastroenterologist Michael Wallace of the study, MD, MPH" We need new ways to effectively detect pancreatic cancer and just as soon as possible. "
Now, over 0 percent of pancreatic cancers are discovered at an advanced or metastatic stage without effective treatment. This explains why pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States, even if it ranks 10th in the occurrence.
"We are confirming our findings in a much larger study, the participation of institutions in the US and Europe," says Dr. Wallace.
the technique is a very different way of looking at cancer detection, he said.
"which is quite unusual is that we tried to detect changes that are not in the tumor itself, but in the nearby tissue, apparently normal", they say he. "It is based on a principle, now increasingly recognized, called a field-effect of cancer. Instead of looking for the needle in the haystack, we now look at the haystack to see how it's different when there is a needle inside.
"the general concept is that cancers cause surrounding tissues to undergo changes in the flow of oxygen that are detectable, not visually or even under the microscope, but this type of sensor," explains Dr. Wallace.
to test the sensor's ability to identify pancreatic cancer, the researchers studied two groups - .. one in which 14 patients have been diagnosed with cancer and other 10 free of cancer patients
Dr. Wallace said endoscope blood sensor is also tested in the colon and esophageal.
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