(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Light waves in a newly explored region of the electromagnetic spectrum -- the terahertz region -- may help ensure complete tumor removal during breast cancer surgery. A new study reveals this new technology could potentially eliminate the need for multiple surgeries and additional tissue samples.

"We found that terahertz light could reliably distinguish between normal breast tissue, tumor and even early-stage 'in situ' cancers in excised tissue samples," says Vincent P. Wallace, Ph.D., lead investigator at TeraView, who worked with Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England, to conduct the study. "This technology could aid the surgeon in immediately identifying residual cancer after the main tumor has been removed, thus minimizing the need for additional surgical procedures."

It currently takes several days to get results back after tissue samples are surgically removed. Since surgeons do not know right away if the entire tumor has been removed, repeat surgeries often have to be scheduled. Terahertz imaging could allow surgeons to analyze tissue samples during the first procedure and potentially eliminate additional surgeries.

The study reveals when a slice of the surgically removed breast tissue is put on a special quartz plate and exposed to terahertz light, the light waves reflected from the tissue contain unique information about it. Researchers could then distinguish both invasive and noninvasive breast cancers from healthy tissue.

Terahertz light is located between the infrared and microwave sections of the electromagnetic spectrum.

SOURCE: Radiology, 2006;239;533-540