Lung Cancer Detection (IMAGE) U.S. National Science Foundation Caption Nano-scale disturbances in cheek cells indicate the presence of lung cancer. Regular microscopy looking at chromatin, the genetic material inside a cell's nucleus, will not reveal significant dissimilarities between the cheek cells of a healthy person and those of a lung cancer patient. However, a new technique called partial wave spectroscopic microscopy zeroes in on smaller-than-microscopic disturbances at the nano-level, which are harbingers of trouble. Credit Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.