The Optical Spectro-Polarimetric Imaging (OSPI) instrument revealed new textures of lesions that have never been seen before--including melanoma in patients who were diagnosed with various skin lesions and were awaiting surgery for their removal. The OSPI biosensor uses safe, infrared wavelengths and liquid crystal (LC) devices to measure tumor characteristics, including contours and spread.

Scientists at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Beer Sheva, Israel) are developing the new device to recognize cancerous skin tumors that aren't visible to the naked eye. Prof. Abdulahim, head of the BGU electro-optical unit in the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, who is leading the project to develop the device, commented, "This is an exciting preliminary development since the initial testing shows that we can now identify microscopic tumors in the biological layers of the skin. As we continue to develop the OSPI, we also see an opportunity to use this technology for detecting other types of cancerous growths."

Cancerous mole detection is usually done by looking for one or more visible symptoms: if the mole is asymmetrical; if its outline is blurred or irregular; if it has multiple colors; if it is larger than five millimeters in diameter; and if stands up above the skin. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons generally diagnose skin tumors by their appearance with the naked eye and only rarely using a dermatoscope, a magnifying tool that allows tumors to be examined in detail.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS; Atlanta, Georgia, USA) more than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed yearly in the United States. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 8,650 of the 11,590 deaths due to skin cancer in 2009.

Israel has also seen a rise in skin cancer cases in recent years. According to the Israel Ministry of Health (Jerusalem, Israel), one of every 39 men and one of every 50 women in Israel will be affected with melanoma in their lifetime.


Related Links:
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
American Cancer Society
Israel Ministry of Health