November 16, 2011

One of the main dangers of cancer is that it is able to metastasize That is, to promote the emergence of new tumors. This happens because of its ability to penetrate into the tissues and cells to spread through the lymphatic or blood vessels to other organs. That is why the detection of disease at an early stage so important. In the case of surgical removal of the affected organ surgeons are forced to work with "stock" of the fact that diseased cells are found in large numbers in nearby lymph nodes. But notice such cells during surgery is impossible, which again leads to the development of neoplasms.

Netherlands and German doctors were puzzled with this problem seriously. They have proposed a new method to detect tumor cells by using molecular imaging fluorescent liquid . This method will greatly help to determine the presence of cancer cells directly during surgery. Its essence is as follows. An hour before the operation the patient do injection   dark green liquid which contains a fluorescent substance. Cancer cells secrete special   proteins Not synthesized by other cells in contact with them enzymes injected fluid stained the proteins, and they become visible. Thus, if during an operation portion operable to illuminate a special light, such cells begin to light up in green. Of course, in this world, and the tumor itself, but after its removal surgeons offer a full picture of the existing situation: it becomes clear whether the tumor is completely removed, and is there any nearby cancer cells. Given the rapid spread of diseased cells of the body, scientists hope in the near future directly during the operation in a similar way to "scan" the lymph nodes of the patient.

Despite the high hopes vested in this method, its effectiveness has not been proved strictly scientific. Medical scientists yet been able to prove only that the method works, but has yet to identify the possible negative side. At the moment, experts conduct additional studies in human volunteers.