Doctors say esophageal cancer is dangerous because it progresses rapidly and is often not detected until 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, and can then 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 to 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 the patient does not need sedation.
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 disease 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, Dr Lishan Aklog, a cardiothoracic surgeon, said the new device could help detect high-risk patients and treat them before cancer appears.
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 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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