New noninvasive tool may allow early detection of dangerous intestinal disease in preemies

Article excerpt

Researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital have developed broadband optical spectroscopy (BOS), a noninvasive scanning technology that can detect necrotizing enterocolitis, a potentially fatal intestinal disease in premature infants, before it shows up on X-rays. In a first-in-human study published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, the tool identified the condition at earlier stages when intervention is more likely to succeed. NEC kills thousands of preemies annually and often requires surgery; earlier detection could spare infants from severe complications or death. The technology works by analyzing light absorption patterns in intestinal tissue, offering doctors a window to intervene before damage becomes irreversible.