Advancements in diagnostics tools may help better detect colon cancer in women, according to findings published in the journal, Cancer Prevention Research.

In an effort to improve colon screenings, a team of biomedical engineers from Northwestern University have integrated optical technology into the use of flexible sigmoidoscopy, a test that measures the blood supply found in rectal tissue. If blood levels are too high, it can be a symptom of the disease.

During more than 360 flexible sigmoidoscopy tests, physicians used the redesigned equipment to detect patients for signs of colon cancer. While this type of screening can only examine the lower part of the colon, the use of optics allows doctors to see variations in the tissues.

The physicians were able to successfully diagnose patients who had developed cancerous symptoms.

These results could lead to “better screening techniques to determine who needs a colonoscopy,” said Vadim Backman, professor of biomedical engineering at the school. He added that “if we can develop something that can be used by a primary care physician, we can vastly increase the number of people who are screened, and ultimately treated, for this disease.”

Healthcare officials report that this year, approximately 102,900 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Institute.