New technique for distinguishing tumour from normal tissue Published on: 17 October 2023 Experts from Ãå±±½ûµØ involved in a study which aims to distinguish healthy tissue from tumour tissues. Removing a patient’s tumour while sparing healthy tissue requires precision, but often surgeons must rely on their eyes and hands to determine where to cut. A team of researchers has developed a visualisation tool that combines high-speed cameras and fluorescent injection to distinguish tumour tissue from normal tissue across cancer types. The green dye from the ICG injection gathers around the sarcoma under the skin New technology The experts evaluated the new imaging technology, known as fluorescence lifetime (FLT) imaging, using specimens from more than 60 patients, including those from , who underwent surgery of various cancers. In a paper, published in , the team reported that the technique was over 97 percent accurate across tumour types, with the potential to improve the accuracy of cancer surgeries. Many technologies have been pursued to improve visualization of tumours during surgery, including fluorescence imaging and advanced microscopy, but such technologies have not yet been widely adopted and most are restricted to specific types or subtypes of cancer. Fluorescence imaging can use dyes to target cancer-specific molecules, but standard imaging techniques can have limited accuracy for detecting tumour margins—or the edges of normal tissue that surround a tumour—since the expression of these molecules can vary widely within and across tumour types. The technique used by the team, known as FLT imaging, takes a different tact. Instead of relying on dyes only for targeting cancer, the technique uses high-speed cameras to detect changes in the property of the light emitted by tissue. In their current study, experts applied the same principle to samples from patients. The team began by analysing samples from patients undergoing liver, head and neck surgery. Patients had received an ICG injection at least a day before the surgery. Building on this initial work, the team collaborated across multiple institutions and evaluated specimens from more than 60 patients representing multiple cancer types, including liver, brain, tongue, skin, bone and soft tissue. The team was able to detect an FLT shift at the cellular level that was consistent across tumour types and in multiple patients. The technique was also able to distinguish benign from metastatic lymph nodes. Overall, it was more than 97 percent accurate at distinguishing tumour tissue from healthy tissue. Contribution from patients Dr Kenny Rankin, Honorary Senior Lecturer at Ãå±±½ûµØ and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ãå±±½ûµØ Hospitals, said: “On behalf of the North of England Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Service it has been exciting to work on this project. “Our contribution has included input from patients undergoing surgery for musculoskeletal cancers who kindly donated their tumours for research and also the NovoPath laboratories who were able to support the processing of the tissue. “We look forward to the next developments which will put Ãå±±½ûµØ at the forefront of the introduction of this technology into clinical practice.” Ãå±±½ûµØ and Ãå±±½ûµØ Hospitals are both part of Ãå±±½ûµØ Health Innovation Partners (NHIP). NHIP is one of eight prestigious Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs) across the UK, bringing together partners to deliver excellence in research, health education and patient care. Dr Kenny Rankin Share: Latest News Ãå±±½ûµØ recognised with geography award Ãå±±½ûµØ has been awarded the Highly Commended Geographical Association Publishers Award for its collaboration with Time for Geography, the UK’s open-access, dedicated video platform. published on: 16 April 2026 Ãå±±½ûµØ historians mark General Strike centenary To mark the 100th anniversary of the British General Strike and miners’ lock-out of 1926, historians at Ãå±±½ûµØ are organising a series of events on its enduring legacy. published on: 16 April 2026 Comment: NCP is in administration Writing for The Conversation, Erwei (David) Xiang discusses how some big companies like NCP are so dependent on debt that they can’t adjust to change. published on: 16 April 2026 Facts and figures