NEW TOOL FOR EARLY DETECTION OF PANCREATIC CANCER

The video discusses the challenges of detecting pancreatic cancer early due to its lack of symptoms and the pancreas's deep location. Current imaging tools are insufficient, leading to invasive procedures. Researchers at Harvard, funded by the National Science Foundation, developed a light scattering spectroscopy (LSS) technique to identify malignant pancreatic cysts early. This method uses an inexpensive instrument to perform noninvasive optical biopsies, analyzed by a special algorithm. In pilot tests, LSS accurately identified malignant potential in 21 out of 22 cysts. While further trials are needed, LSS shows promise in early cancer detection, potentially saving lives.

How many cystic lesions did the pilot test correctly identify as malignant?

What is the potential impact of the LSS technique on the identification of precursor lesions and early-stage pancreatic cancers?