Scientists develop new imaging agent for use in CT scans
Although there is still no surefire cure for breast cancer, many patients who buy Tamoxifen have reported positive effects.
Although there is still no surefire cure for breast cancer, many patients who buy Tamoxifen have reported positive effects. Detecting the condition in its early stages can help ensure that women get prompt treatment.
Computed tomography (CT) scans are a common way to assess the status of the disease, and a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society reports that a new imaging agent called tantalum oxide nanoparticle may be an inexpensive way to boost the effectiveness of the screening technique.
Lead author Taeghwan Hyeon and colleagues reported in their paper that CT scans are the most widely used medical imaging tests. Although the procedures are very effective, they call for large amounts of imaging agents, which are associated with many disadvantages. For example, some do not stay in the body for very long, limiting the types of images that doctors can take.
These chemicals can also be expensive, such as nanoparticles that are made out of gold, or even toxic in large quantities.
As a result, tantalum oxide nanoparticles may be a cost-effective alternative. Scientists said that this agent could have important uses in checking cardiovascular blood vessels for blockages, as well as detecting the spread of breast cancer by screening lymph nodes.
|
