Is this the end of endoscopy? Patients could avoid an invasive procedure by swallowing a small camera inside a moving pill that could transform the diagnosis of bowel cancer
- Patients swallow cancer chamber, known as colon capsule endoscopy
- He then takes pictures of the lining of the intestine to look for any signs of disease
- Initially, 11,000 NHS patients in Britain have started sending devices for a trial
- If successful, the new form of diagnosis is expected to mean the end of more invasive colonoscopies as well as X-rays, according to charities and the NHS.
A pill containing a small chamber capable of detecting tumors is intended to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer.
The cancer camera, known as an endoscopy of the colon capsule, is swallowed by patients and takes photographs of the lining of the intestine to look for any signs of disease as it passes through the digestive system.
The devices, which can deliver results in just five hours, are initially sent to 11,000 NHS patients across the country for testing.
If successful, the new form of diagnosis is expected to mean the end of the most invasive colonoscopies and x-rays.
Charities said the camera capsules could change the game for diagnosis.
The cancer camera, known as an endoscopy of the colon capsule (pictured), is swallowed by patients and takes photographs of the lining of the intestine to look for any signs of disease as it passes through the digestive system.
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “This can make a big difference for people with bowel cancer symptoms and could help the NHS prioritize those who urgently need further testing.”
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with 42,000 new cases diagnosed each year and responsible for more than 16,500 deaths annually.
Diagnosis can be delayed because many people refuse to undergo an awkward procedure that involves passing a thin tube with a camera into the bowel through the rectum.
By taking the pill, patients can continue their daily lives without having to visit a hospital.
Approximately the size of a large vitamin pill, it is swallowed in the same way as a pill and makes the same journey through the gut as food.
As it passes, the device captures about 400,000 images to find abnormalities (such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease) that are sent to a device worn around the patient’s waist.
The devices, which can deliver results in just five hours, are initially sent to 11,000 NHS patients across the country for testing. In the picture: the device located next to an American penny
Doctors download the images and issue a report that can give a much faster diagnosis than if the patient underwent an x-ray or colonoscopy.
The patient then passes the disposable capsule. Prior to the test, patients follow a “low-residue diet” and are given strong laxatives the day before to ensure the camera can take the clearest photos possible.
Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, said: “What seems like science fiction is becoming a reality. When we come out of the ‘Covid peak’ and the disruption of the pandemic, the NHS is moving forward with genuine innovation to expand services for other conditions “.
Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, said: “What seems like science fiction is becoming a reality. When we come out of the ‘Covid peak’ and the disruption of the pandemic, the NHS is moving forward with genuine innovation to expand services for other conditions “.
The NHS has struggled to maintain cancer services during the pandemic, with many patients postponing symptom screening and a substantial decrease in referrals.
Dr Ed Seward, director of endoscopy at University College London Hospitals, which uses the innovative diagnostic tool, said he hopes they can benefit patients who are reluctant to leave their homes.
He said, “Patients who may be protected or be cautious about going to a hospital can perform the procedure in the comfort of their own home.”