A new imaging technique could give doctors their clearest ever look inside the human body, say experts from in the UK. Doctors at Mount Vernon Hospital in London have combined two existing imaging methods in order to pinpoint the exact location of tumors so that each patient can be given radiotherapy tailored to the precise shape of their tumor, thus improving its effectiveness and reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The techniques works by taking computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of patients and then overlaying the images using specially designed software. Together the images give doctors an accurate picture of the location, shape, and size of the tumor. The researchers are initially planning to use the technique to treat prostate cancer, however they believe that it may also be useful for treating other cancers, for example tumors of the brain, head, and neck.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.newscientist.com on the 16th June 2001
