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A new
"imaging gun" developed by Australian researchers
will allow physicians to detect melanomas instantly.
The SolarScan,
shaped like a hairdryer, is placed on a patient's skin and
takes an image of the suspicious area. The scan reads the
image and compares it with a database of skin tumors to determine
if the spot is cancerous.
"SolarScan
will help to save lives by detecting skin cancer warning signs
early enough for medical treatment," said Peter McGauran,
Minister for Science.
Before
the SolarScan, doctors had to send skin biopsies to a specialist
for diagnosis.
The SolarScan
can also store images of skin spots to be used for comparison
at later patient check-ups.
The SolarScan
was developed over eight years by the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Polartechnics
and Sydney Melanoma Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
"We
hope to see SolarScan playing an important role in the early
detection of skin cancer in this country and around the world,"
said Dr. Victor Skladnev of Polartechnics.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of May 19, 2002
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