A new study has evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of using a fibreoptic probe containing polarization gating spectroscopy technology to diagnose patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma by detecting microvascular changes. The study included 14 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 15 patients without cancer. Spectroscopic measurements were taken (at five locations) of variables indicative of microvascular changes, such as blood vessel radius and deoxyhaemoglobin concentration. Significant differences were found between the two groups, suggesting that this technique is feasible and can differentiate patients with and without pancreatic adenocarcinoma.