Researchers successfully use cost-effective Cherenkov radiation device to detect cancer

Researchers have successfully developed a cost-effective method to detect cancer using Cherenkov radiation.

About Cherenkov radiation:

• Cherenkov radiation is a particular kind of radiation that is emitted by charged particles (like electrons) when they pass through some mediums.
• A good example of this kind of radiation is the characteristic blue glow of underwater nuclear reactors.
• A new research has successfully used this kind of radiation to detect and locate the presence of cancer in patients.
• The Cherenkov radiation is analogous with the more well-known sonic boom effect.
  • If an aircraft moves slower than the sound speed in a medium, the air deflection is smooth around the wings of the aircraft.
  • However if the motion speed exceeds the medium sound velocity, then a sudden pressure change would happen and shock waves propagate away from the aircraft in a cone at the speed of sound.
• A Cherenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) procedure where charged particles released by the system cause the target tissue (the tumour) to vibrate and stop vibrating in such a way that they emit light which can be captured by a camera.
• Advantage: It is much cheaper to purchase and use than current nuclear imaging technology.
• Disadvantage: CLI images are not nearly as precise as those from PET/CT scans but the researchers believe that CLI can be used as an initial diagnostic test or assessment.