Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging: A Cutting-Edge Method for Diagnosing Digestive Cancers.

Author: Danciu M1, Alexa-Stratulat T2, Stefanescu C3, Dodi G4, Tamba BI5, Mihai CT6, Stanciu GD7, Luca A8, Spiridon IA9, Ungureanu LB10, Ianole V11, Ciortescu I12, Mihai C13, Stefanescu G14, Chirilă I15, Ciobanu R16, Drug VL17
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Pathology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. mihai.danciu@umfiasi.ro. <sup>2</sup>Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. teodora.alexa-stratulat@umfiasi.ro. <sup>3</sup>Department of Biophysics and Medical Physics-Nuclear Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. cipriana.stefanescu@umfiasi.ro. <sup>4</sup>Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. gianina.dodi@umfiasi.ro. <sup>5</sup>Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. bogdan.tamba@umfiasi.ro. <sup>6</sup>Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. cosmin-teodor.mihai@umfiasi.ro. <sup>7</sup>Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. gabriela-dumitrita.s@umfiasi.ro. <sup>8</sup>Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine (CEMEX), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. andrei.g.luca@umfiasi.ro. <sup>9</sup>Pathology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. irenespiridon@yahoo.com. <sup>10</sup>Pathology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. loredana.ungureanu81@gmail.com. <sup>11</sup>Pathology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. ianole.victor@gmail.com. <sup>12</sup>Gastroenterology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. irinaciortescu@yahoo.com. <sup>13</sup>Gastroenterology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. catalinamihai@yahoo.com. <sup>14</sup>Gastroenterology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. gabriela.stefanescu@gmail.com. <sup>15</sup>Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. chirilaioan@yahoo.com. <sup>16</sup>Electrical Engineering Faculty, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania. rciobanu@yahoo.com. <sup>17</sup>Gastroenterology Department, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700051 Iasi, Romania. vasidrug@email.com.
Conference/Journal: Materials (Basel).
Date published: 2019 May 9
Other: Volume ID: 12 , Issue ID: 9 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ma12091519. , Word Count: 230


The Terahertz's wavelength is located between the microwave and the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because it is non-ionizing and non-invasive, Terahertz (THz)-based detection represents a very attractive tool for repeated assessments, patient monitoring, and follow-up. Cancer acts as the second leading cause of death in many regions, and current predictions estimate a continuous increasing trend. Of all types of tumors, digestive cancers represent an important percentage and their incidence is expected to increase more rapidly than other tumor types due to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Because it can precisely differentiate between different types of molecules, depending on water content, the information obtained through THz-based scanning could have several uses in the management of cancer patients and, more importantly, in the early detection of different solid tumors. The purpose of this manuscript is to offer a comprehensive overview of current data available on THz-based detection for digestive cancers. It summarizes the characteristics of THz waves and their interaction with tissues and subsequently presents available THz-based technologies (THz spectroscopy, THz-tomography, and THZ-endoscope) and their potential for future clinical use. The third part of the review is focused on highlighting current in vitro and in vivo research progress in the field, for identifying specific digestive cancers known as oral, esophageal, gastric, colonic, hepatic, and pancreatic tumors.

KEYWORDS: cancer diagnosis; digestive cancer; screening; terahertz endoscopy; terahertz spectroscopy; terahertz tomography

PMID: 31075912 DOI: 10.3390/ma12091519