Infrared Spectral Digital Imaging and Bone Cancer Diagnostic

Abstract

Scientists today are pursuing the development of non-destructive and non-invasive methods for rapid and reliable diagnosis of diseases in digital form and reduction in the need for biopsies. In this paper we review the most recent studies supporting the application of Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and infrared thermography or medical thermography. Both are non-destructive digital techniques, which are promising to record and discriminate the local biochemical changes that are induced by the diseases, while the examined samples do not need any special preparation. The reflected infrared radiation from the affected areas of the body strongly depends on the metabolic steps of the cancer/or any other disease, which is also related to the structural changes at a molecular level of the biological molecules during enzymatic or non-enzymatic steps of the disease. The detection of the FT-IR spectral digital “marker bands” of the obtained changes of cell, liquids or tissue components are derived from the disease in the check point. Furthermore, ImageJ analysis of the thermal imaging in cancerous area showed aggregate formation upon cancer development as it was also indicated from the FT-IR spectra.