加拿大开发出早期检测口腔癌的光学设备

 
一种特制的光学设备可以早期检测口腔癌，有助于口腔科医生决定是否需要从口腔病变区域进行活检。

该设备是由Calum MacAulay医生研制开发的，他是不列颠哥伦比亚癌症研究中心(Vancouver, Canada)影像学项目负责人，Pierre Lane的博士后研究员。这种视觉增强病变观测仪VELScope是一种轻便的手工设备。在检测光源上附着一根柔软的索带，视觉观测器能够对病变区域进行实时检查。VELScope向口腔发射圆锥型光束，激活细胞内的分子，使其吸收光能，变成可视荧光。使用VELScope将光束投射入口腔中疼痛病变区域，并通过附着的目镜进行检测。正常的口腔组织发出浅绿色荧光，而早期肿瘤或者增生细胞发出暗绿色～黑色光。
 
Optical Device Detects Developing Oral Cancer
 
A customized optical device that facilitates early detection of oral cancer will help dentists decide whether it is necessary to biopsy abnormal lesions in the mouth.

Developed by Dr. Calum MacAulay, head of the British Columbia Cancer Research Center’s (Vancouver, Canada) imaging program, and post-doctoral fellow Pierre Lane, the visually enhanced lesion scope VELScope is a lightweight, hand-held device. A flexible cord is attached to the examination light, and a view finder allows direct evaluation of lesions in real time. The VELScope emits a cone of light into the mouth that excites molecules in cells causing them to absorb the light energy and reemit it as visible fluorescence. Using the VELScope, a light can be shone onto a suspicious sore in the mouth, which can be viewed through the attached eyepiece. Normal oral tissue emits a pale green fluorescence, while potentially early tumor or dyplastic cells appear dark green to black.