It is not magic but almost because the DWB (Diffusion Whole Body) is a giant camera that scans every inch of our internal and external body. With DWB, no contrast fluid is needed and there is no radiation stream reaching our body.
The scanner, dreamed of by prof. Umberto Veronesi, was initially used only as a tool for those at high risk of relapses. Even for pregnant patients, DWB is a viable option without any ionizing radiation. It is now a tool also used for prevention, therefore on subjects who do not show symptoms.
A non-invasive diagnostic scanner that detects even the smallest tumors is finally a reality
We know how difficult it is to undergo necessary but very invasive analyzes, such as colonoscopy or gastroscopy, which sometimes constitute a deterrent to carry out checks.
However, we are not yet in a phase in which the screening process such as the occult blood test, mammography or pap smear can be neglected.
Prevention through periodic medical checks still remains the cornerstone of the fight against cancer also due to the scarcity of DWB.
In Italy we have only two, for example: one at the IEO, the European Institute of Oncology, and a second at a private facility in the Bergamo area.
Worldwide DWBs do not exceed ten but are already used for early diagnosis.
Just think that with these very special magnetic resonances a tumor of 3 to 4 millimeters can be found!
Currently, the examination in private regime has a rather prohibitive cost but with the growing demand we can hope the DWB will increase since only up to ten years ago they were a mirage.
Another good news is the reliability and false positive rate which is comparable to that of PET.
Nanotechnology
The road is still marked and the trend, even for common diagnostic investigations, is to make them less and less invasive. And this is possible thanks to nanotechnology.
Although they still do not meet the full favor of oncologists, diagnostic video capsules have been used for years now.
In some cases they can replace gastroscopy and colonoscopy. In this case, however, there is no possibility of intervening during the examination, for example, to remove polyps.
Today there is a new ally in the fight against cancer even for symptom-free screening, a non-invasive diagnostic scanner that detects even the smallest tumors is finally a reality.
To learn more, the editorial staff of ProiezionidiBorsa illustrates other innovative prevention tools.
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