A Novel, Low-Cost, Handheld, 3D Imaging System for Improved Screening of Cervical Neoplasia in Resource Limited Settings

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Abstract Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, reflected by the fact that its incidence has significantly fallen in most of the developed world over the past 30 years, largely due to effective screening and treatment programs. In developing countries and also in socio-economic disadvantaged areas of developed countries, many women lack convenient access to affordable and high-quality programs to save their lives. Currently, more than a million women worldwide have cervical cancer. Most of these women do not have access to diagnoses and treatments that could cure them or prolong their lives. In 2012, >500,000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed worldwide, and >250,000 of these women died of the disease -- nearly 90% in low- to middle-income countries. Deaths due to cervical cancer are projected to rise by almost 25% over the next 10 years without proper interventions. New technological developments offer the potential to make comprehensive cervical cancer care feasible and affordable in low- and middle-income countries, and to mitigate the skyrocketing healthcare costs in the developed world. In response, we have recently developed (through support from an NSF-SBIR award) a portable, low-cost, simple-to-use, telemedicine- and patient-friendly innovative imaging system that can help advance toward the screen-and-treat strategy for cervical cancer prevention advocated by the World Health Organization. In this phase I study, we will develop and establish feasibility of our screening protocols and advance the overall technology.