The rapid diagnosis of gliomas via serum spectroscopy

Gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumours in adults, with these intracranial neoplasms accounting for 70% of adult malignant brain tumours (1). Confirmatory diagnosis occurs by staining tumour sections and identifying microscopic features characteristic of a disease state. The current methodology is subjective, and may require the patient to undergo unnecessary surgery. Spectroscopy is the study of the absorption and emission of light. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy is rapid, cost-effective and analytical techniques and require little or no sample preparation or use of chemicals.