Doctors say esophageal cancer is dangerous because it progresses rapidly and is often not detected until the later stages because it does not cause early symptoms.
Recently, doctors at Lucid Diagnostics, a medical device company specializing in diagnosing esophageal cancer in New York (USA), have developed a device that can detect precancerous cells in acid reflux patients, then can remove tumor cells before the disease develops, according to the Daily Mail.
A pill-like device can detect signs of cancer before it develops, helping patients get timely treatment.
The device, which resembles a pill attached to a long, thin tube, is inserted down the throat and gently guided into the stomach to collect a sample of cells, before the device is removed.
According to doctors, the entire testing process takes about 2 minutes and patients do not need to use sedatives.
The cells are then sent to a laboratory to be tested for precancerous cells that may reveal a patient's risk of developing the disease.
The new test could be used in patients with gastroesophageal reflux and could also be used to diagnose esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer is dangerous because it progresses rapidly and is often not detected early.
The inventor, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Lishan Aklog, said the new device could help identify high-risk patients and treat them before cancer develops.
Tests on 400 firefighters in San Francisco (USA) showed that this device is 90% accurate in diagnosing precancerous cells.
Once precancerous cells are diagnosed, the patient may also be advised to lose weight or quit smoking or reduce alcohol intake to reduce the risk of the cells developing into cancer.
The test is now available in several states and has been designated a breakthrough device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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