A new MRI innovation that makes cancerous tissue glow in medical images could help doctors more accurately detect and track cancer progression over time.
The MRI innovation creates images in which cancerous tissue appears to light up compared to healthy tissue, making it easier to see. This new technology has promising potential to improve cancer screening, prognosis, and treatment planning.
Irregular packing of cells leads to differences in how water molecules move in cancerous tissue compared to healthy tissue. The new technology, synthetic correlated diffusion imaging, highlights these differences by capturing, synthesizing, and mixing MRI signals at different gradient pulse strengths and timings.
In the largest study of its kind, the researchers collaborated with medical experts to apply the technology to a cohort of 200 patients with prostate cancer. Compared to standard MRI techniques, synthetic correlated diffusion imaging was better at delineating significant cancerous tissue, making it a potentially powerful tool for doctors and radiologists.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and the most frequently diagnosed cancer in more developed countries. That’s why researchers targeted its first research. They also have very promising breast cancer screening, detection, and treatment planning results. This could be a game-changer for cancer imaging and clinical decision support.