Cameras to enhance cancer diagnosis
The time taken to detect brain tumours could be significantly reduced as a result of a nuclear physics project being led by Liverpool University.

Working in collaboration with the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Daresbury Laboratory, researchers are hoping to develop the next generation of medical imaging technologies for the improved detection and treatment of cancer.
“It will be possible to fit this SPECT system retrospectively to MRI scanners across the UK”
The work, which is being done under the title Project ProSPECTus, will be based on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging – a technique that detects gamma rays emitted from a small amount of a radioactive pharmaceutical injected into the body.
Conventionally, an ’Anger Camera’ is used to do this. This camera relies on a collimator to filter some of the gamma rays through and to build a picture of the inner biological process of the patient.
However, ProSPECTus has taken a different approach by using what is known as the ’Compton Camera’. This identifies the origin of the gamma rays without the use of a collimator, resulting in much less radiation being emitted during the process.
Dr Andy Boston, project spokesperson for Liverpool University, said that, because the radiation is used more efficiently, the sensitivity of the camera is improved, allowing the dose of radiation administered to the patient to be increased.
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Comment: Engineers must adapt to AI or fall behind
A fascinating piece and nice to see a broad discussion beyond GenAI and the hype bandwagon. AI (all flavours) like many things invented or used by...