Surgeons May Now Be Able to See Cancer Using an Experimental Eyewear

New experimental glasses especially created for the use of doctors may now help them detect and see cancer cells while performing surgery.

On Monday, a pair of high-tech glasses were first used during a surgery in St. Louis that allowed surgeons to distinguish healthy cells from malignant ones. The use of glasses make it possible to change the color of affected cells to blue, helping to ensure that no tumor cells were left behind.

"We're in the early stages of this technology, and more development and testing will be done, but we're certainly encouraged by the potential benefits to patients," said Dr. Julie Margenthaler, a breast surgeon at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Margenthaler was also the one who performed the operation on Monday.

She added: "Imagine what it would mean if these glasses eliminated the need for follow-up surgery and the associated pain, inconvenience and anxiety."

The new system was developed by a team at Washington University School of Medicine led by Samuel Achilefu, a professor of radiology and biomedical engineering. Dr. Margenthaler confirmed that approximately 20 to 25 percent of breast cancer patients who have lumps removed require a second operation because of current technology's inability to spot all cancer cells.

"Our hope is that this new technology will reduce or ideally eliminate the need for a second surgery," she said.

Achilefu has already filed a patent for the technology.

The research was funded by the U.S National Cancer Institute.