<p>Ordinary sugar may be used in imaging techniques to detect cancer, suggests a new study that found malignant tumours show higher sugar consumption than surrounding tissue.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"If sugar replaces metal as a contrast agent in the body, it can also have a positive psychological effect and make patients calmer," said Linda Knutsson, senior lecturer at Lund University in Sweden.<br /><br />A tumour's properties can be examined by injecting a small amount of sugar into it, and then measuring how much sugar the tumour consumes. The more sugar the tumour consumes, the more malignant it is.<br /><br />Knutsson is working with a team from Johns Hopkins University in the US, which has developed a new imaging technique for magnetic resonance tomography.<br /><br />The collaboration has resulted in the new imaging technique being combined with the testing of natural sugar as a replacement for metal in contrast agents.<br /><br />It is the first time a non-synthetic contrast agent has been used in human magnetic resonance tomography examinations, and the results are promising, researchers said.<br /><br />The uptake of sugar is higher in the tumour than in healthy tissue according to the results of tests carried out by researchers.<br /><br />The tests were carried out on three persons with a brain tumour and four healthy persons.<br />"Metal-based contrast agents cost more than sugar-based agents. Accordingly, this could lead to a reduction in medical care costs," said Knutsson.</p>
<p>Ordinary sugar may be used in imaging techniques to detect cancer, suggests a new study that found malignant tumours show higher sugar consumption than surrounding tissue.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"If sugar replaces metal as a contrast agent in the body, it can also have a positive psychological effect and make patients calmer," said Linda Knutsson, senior lecturer at Lund University in Sweden.<br /><br />A tumour's properties can be examined by injecting a small amount of sugar into it, and then measuring how much sugar the tumour consumes. The more sugar the tumour consumes, the more malignant it is.<br /><br />Knutsson is working with a team from Johns Hopkins University in the US, which has developed a new imaging technique for magnetic resonance tomography.<br /><br />The collaboration has resulted in the new imaging technique being combined with the testing of natural sugar as a replacement for metal in contrast agents.<br /><br />It is the first time a non-synthetic contrast agent has been used in human magnetic resonance tomography examinations, and the results are promising, researchers said.<br /><br />The uptake of sugar is higher in the tumour than in healthy tissue according to the results of tests carried out by researchers.<br /><br />The tests were carried out on three persons with a brain tumour and four healthy persons.<br />"Metal-based contrast agents cost more than sugar-based agents. Accordingly, this could lead to a reduction in medical care costs," said Knutsson.</p>