Raman spectroscopy for identification of epithelial cancers

There is a real need for improvements in cancer detection. Significant problems are encountered when utilising the gold standard of excisional biopsy combined with histopathology. This can include missed lesions, perforation and high levels of inter- and intra-observer discrepancies. The clinical requirements for an objective, non-invasive real time probe for accurate and repeatable measurement of tissue pathological state are overwhelming. This study has evaluated the potential for Raman spectroscopy to achieve this goal. The technique measures the molecular specific inelastic scattering of laser light within tissue, thus enabling the analysis of biochemical changes that precede and accompany disease…