Cytosponge™

Simple Clinic Test Offers Alternative to Endoscopy when Screening for Barrett’s Oesophagus.

Cytosponge™ is a new test that can identify Barrett’s Oesophagus in at risk patients. It has been developed in the UK and is accurate, less invasive and relatively inexpensive compared to endoscopy.

Background

The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased six-fold since the 1970s and survival remains poor despite advances in surgery and chemotherapy. The overall 5-year survival is just 13%.

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Reflux is very common; about 20% of adults in the UK suffer from heartburn symptoms caused by GORD. Of these it is estimated that 3-6% will have developed Barrett’s Oesophagus. Barrett’s is caused by reflux and is the precursor of most oesophageal cancers in the UK. However, only about 20% of patients with Barrett’s oesophagus are diagnosed and therefore most people who develop oesophageal adenocarcinoma were unaware they had Barrett’s.

This article and image is from Reflux UK, click here to read more.