More precise and without any radiation. That is how a new device for diagnostics of breast cancer should work like. The device is currently being developed by the researchers from the Faculty of Information Technology VUT in cooperation with other European scientists. In the future, the new 3D technology may replace classic ultrasound and even x-ray mammogram.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women - annually, more than 1.5 million patients all around the world come to departments of oncology, in the Czech Republic, there are around 7 thousands patients a year. Breast cancer is fortunately treatable providing that doctors diagnose and identify the tumour early. That is the aim of the project PAMMOTH. The researchers from the Faculty of Information Technology VUT and other eight European institutions are currently collaborating under the project. Together, they develop new device for non-invasive photoacoustic breast screening, which may help early diagnostics of the cancer as well as better diagnose.

Thanks to more precise diagnostics, it will be possible to lower the number of false alarms, which rises up to 75% nowadays. Consequently, women often needlessly undertake many check-ups, including tissue sample extraction through biopsy. The system also does not use x-rays and contrast agents like mammogram. This may be harmful and sets higher demands on the overall health state of the patient. Diagnostics through the new device is painless and far more comfortable than the usual mammogram.

Project PAMMOTH uniquely combines two imaging technologies - ultrasound and photoacoustic mammography. Therefore, the system may analyse different characters of tissue, e.g. density, rigidity or oxygenation. Ultrasound mammogram enables information about breast anatomy and creates a "map" of the tissue. Photoacoustic mammogram uses laser, which is absorbed in the vessels with higher concentration of oxygenated blood; therefore, it can reveal well perfused tissue, which are sign of the cancerous growth.

The scientists are currently working on the prototype of the device and are testing the technology through various simulations and artificial breast samples. Pilot study with real patients should take place next year - Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) researchers will be processing the data from patients from hospital in Twente, Netherlands. In the future, the method may be used even to diagnose cancer in the abdominal area, such as in liver, kidney or pancreas.

Project PAMMOTH cost 5 million EURO and is part of the EU programme Horizon 2020. Six researchers from the Faculty of Information Technology are working on the project. Apart from VUT another 70 researchers from 3 universities are cooperating in the project: University College London (UCL), University of Bern (UB), University of Twente (UT) and 5 partners from industry: Imasonic (ultrasound detectors), EXPLA (laser), PA Imaging (device assembly), Medisch Spectrum Twente (clinical testing) and TP21 (management).

25 April 2018, 09:55, Author: (VUT in Brno), Technický týdeník

https://www.technickytydenik.cz/rubriky/denni-zpravodajstvi/vyzkumnici-z-fakulty-informacnich
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