Knowing the stage of a patient's melanoma is important when choosing the best course of treatment.

When the cancer has progressed to the lymph nodes, a more aggressive treatment is needed.

University of Missouri researchers in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center are studying how photoacoustics, or a laser-induced ultrasound, could help scientists locate the general area of the lymph node where melanoma cells could be residing. This new technology could help doctors identify the stage of melanoma with more accuracy.

"This method can be used to determine if the cancer has spread from stage 2, where the melanoma is still just in the skin lesion, to stage 3, where the melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes," said John Viator, assistant professor in the Department of Biological Engineering and Department of Dermatology.

"If the cancer is still at stage 2, a simple procedure can remove that lesion. If the cancer has progressed from the initial skin lesion into the lymphatic region and possibly the bloodstream, doctors have to make serious decisions about patient care. The cancer may have possibly spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs or brain."

Currently, pathologists must perform several specific and detailed tests to determine if there is cancer in the lymph nodes. This new technology could make the search less time-consuming by identifying a general area of the lymph node that might contain cancer.

"Viator uses the photoacoustic method, a tabletop device scans a lymph node biopsy with laser pulses. This method could help doctors identify the stage of melanoma with more accuracy. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Missouri-Columbia)"

Source: University of Missouri-Columbia