Electronic nose helps find tumour
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is linked to long term asbestos exposure. Image: ChrisPole/iStockphoto Australian researchers have developed a breath test using an electronic nose to help diagnose malignant mesothelioma in its early stages, a potentially life-saving move.The non-invasive test was created by a team lead at the University of New South Wales. The device was designed to distinguish between benign and malignant disease and to detect disease early.“If you catch it earlier your chances of actually giving people the right treatment to stop it spreading are actually better,” says study team leader, Associate Professor Deborah Yates.“We tried to exclude the other asbestos diseases because it’s very important from a patient’s point of view that you don’t pick up something that is a benign asbestos disease, so that you don’t diagnose them with something that’s not actually a problem.”Asbestos-related disease affects thousands of people in Australia, which has...