‘Sponge on string’ alternative to endoscopy for cancer check

A“sponge on a string” device used to screen patients for cancer has been rolled out to all Scottish mainland health boards.

The Cytosponge device can be offered to some people as an alternative to endoscopy and can be used to check Barrett’s Oesophagus patients for signs of cancer.

The procedure involves patients swallowing a small pill attached to a thread which then expands into a little sponge and is pulled back up, collecting cells on the way to be analysed for any abnormalities.

It has now been rolled out after initially being introduced in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and

NHS Lanarkshire last year.

Clinicians said the pandemic has had serious repercussions both for patients waiting for diagnostic endoscopy and Barrett’s Oesophagus patients needing surveillance, with some at risk of developing cancer without investigation.

It is hoped that using the Cytosponge device will help speed up the process.

Professor Grant Fullarton, clinical lead in Scotland, said: “While the Covid-19 pandemic has aggravated the issues surrounding Barrett’s Oesophagus and endoscopy, it has also fast-tracked this change to the diagnostic pathway.

“Cytosponge helps specialist teams to triage

Barrett’s Oesophagus and find which patients, with established premalignancy in the oesophagus, require endoscopy and treatment.

“We’ve already detected pre and early cancer in patients, and early detection of this kind of cancer allows less invasive curative treatment involving endoscopic methods rather than major surgery.

“Such early diagnosis at scale across Scotland could revolutionise the outcome of what is now a poor outcome disease.”

It can collect cells in less than 10 minutes and does not require patients to be sedated.

Julie MacDonald, a nurse endoscopist at Forth Valley

Royal Hospital in Larbert, said: “It is a simple, safe, reliable test that can be conducted in an outpatient setting.”

Elizabeth McEwan, 66, who had the procedure at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, said it was a “very easy and very comfortable alternative to endoscopy”.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Cytosponge is part of an accelerated rollout of innovative technologies being embraced by Scotland’s NHS to support the resumption and recovery of vital health services that had to be paused because of the pandemic.

“It is a much simpler and more patient-friendly test than endoscopy that enables faster diagnosis.”

TEST: The Cytosponge device has now been rolled out.