Dr Prem Tech and Web Services Logo

Will Cytosponge Revolutionize Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis?

biopsy
Grow with Dr Prem

The diagnosis of any disease plays a major role as far as its treatment is concerned. A disease properly identified and diagnosed is half cured. A diagnosis done well aids plenty in the treatment process and avoids further complications. As for diagnosis of cancer, it is important for it to be properly diagnosed in the first place for treatment and surgeries to follow correctly.

Esophageal cancer diagnosis:

Esophageal CancerWith Esophageal cancer, the steps of diagnosis are the same as for any other diagnosis: endoscopy and biopsy. The doctor looks for any signs of cancer in your throat, and if any tissues or lumps are formed, they are immediately sent for further evaluation to confirm if they are benign or not.

A strict and particular protocol is followed to determine the stage of the infection if the lump turns out to be malignant. The conditions can be one of the following:

  • Stage In-Situ: Cancer may have just been seen and, fortunately, has not yet invaded any cells of the inner lining of the oesophagus.
  • Stage I: The first layers of the inner lining of the oesophagus begin to get affected and the infection also spreads to nearby lymph nodes.
  • Stage II: The cancer has not only surpassed the superficial layers of the oesophagus, but has now also taken over the surrounding lymph nodes too.
  • Stage III: All layers of the oesophagus are now cancerous and the infection has reached the innermost muscular layers too.
  • Stage IV: The cancer is not only limited to the oesophagus, but has now spread to other body parts.

This is the traditional way of diagnosis of Esophageal cancer. However, this process has slightly changed with the advent of cytosponge. Now let’s see how that works.

Esophageal Cancer Diagnosis using Cytosponge:

Cytosponge

 

Image Source : cadth.ca

Dr Prem Tech and Web Services

Cytosponge, a recent discovery by researchers at the University of Cambridge, has revolutionised the field of cancer research and treatment. Also known as ‘The pill on a string,’ this Cytosponge has a very simple yet effective formula to it. It sits enclosed within the covering of an edible pill, with a long string attached to the pill. The patient who needs to undergo endoscopy is then made to swallow this pill which has the Cytosponge within it.

Once inside, the outer covering of the pill is dissolved revealing the substance, cytosponge, which now swells up a little. The string, which is still very well in contact with the Cytosponge, is now tugged at, and the sponge makes its way out of the mouth through the oesophagus following the string. On its way out, it also collects samples of the tissue by brushing against them, which the doctors use for further evaluation.

Benefits of Cytosponge over traditional diagnosis:

biopsy Any new discovery brings with it new and better advantages. People are more inclined to follow new and better ways of treatment and care, as opposed to the plain old traditional ones.

  • Cytosponge is a painless procedure. Many people dread to go through the process of endoscopy and biopsy. This new process will nullify that pain and fear, and is simple yet effective.
  • Unlike biopsy, there is no surgery involved. It is a painless procedure which gets done quickly.
  • Biopsy only reveals a certain part of the muscle, whereas Cytosponge brings with it samples of all the cells of the oesophagus.
  • Individuals with Barrett’s oesophagus find it tough to undergo endoscopy, and cytosponge is nothing buta boon for them.
  • With biopsy, if you fail to collect the right cancerous samples and end up only examining the benign ones, the entire diagnosis may appear to be falsely negative. There may be no cancer detected even if there is one, if the correct spot of infection is not examined. With cytosponge, there can be no such error since the sponge erodes the entire length of the oesophagus. Any malignant tissue will not be able to escape the cytosponge.
  • Cytosponge can very well be compared to a camera that is sent down the throat, except the camera also brings with it samples of tissues and growths of lumps within.

A few patients have reported saying that the cytosponge gives a weird itchy feel when it goes down the throat. The pill takes about 5-7 minutes to dissolve completely and the patient needs to be a little cooperating in this entire process. If the cytosponge really works out well, diagnosis of cancer will become a cakewalk. It will end up revolutionising and changing the face of cancer diagnosis entirely.

Dr Prem Tech and Web Services
Scroll to Top