J08 -- February 2009 -- Virtual GI Biopsy

Intro: Colon cancer is a deadly disease that, thanks to screening tools, can be prevented and cured if caught early. One of the current ways to look for cancer or pre-cancerous polyps is with colonoscopy. That's the test during which doctors use a scope to spot and remove polyps which they send to a lab for diagnosis. But now, a new technology allows doctors to determine if you have pre-cancerous polyps without having to remove them first. Doctors at Mayo Clinic say it could save many people from having unnecessary biopsies.

AS A GIFT TO HIMSELF, JOHN LEVCHUK GOT A HEAD-TO-TOE PHYSICAL EXAM. IT INCLUDED A COLONOSCOPY.

"THEY TOOK OUT ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT POLYPS."

THE ONLY WAY JOHN'S DOCTORS COULD TELL WHETHER OR NOT THE COLON POLYPS WERE PRE-CANCEROUS WAS TO REMOVE THEM AND SEND THEM TO A PATHOLOGY LAB FOR DIAGNOSIS. POLYP BIOPSIES ARE A VERY GOOD WAY OF DIAGNOSING CANCER, BUT STUDIES SHOW ALMOST HALF OF THEM DON'T NEED TO BE TAKEN OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE BENIGN. RESEARCH AT MAYO CLINIC SHOWS THAT A NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN DETECT AND DIAGNOSE COLON POLYPS WITHOUT HAVING TO REMOVE ANY TISSUE FROM THE BODY.

"THIS NEW VIRTUAL BIOPSY TECHNIQUE WOULD ALLOW US TO LOOK AT POLYPS VERY PRECISELY WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN THE COLON AND MAKE A DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE PRECANCEROUS OR NOT.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: DOCTOR MICHAEL WALLACE GUIDES A COLONOSCOPE EQUIPPED WITH A CAMERA AND TINY, PROBE-BASED MICROSCOPE INTO THE COLON. ONCE THERE HE CAN IDENTIFY POLYPS AND USE THE MICROSCOPE TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL CELLS. IF THE CELLS LOOK NORMAL, THE POLYP CAN STAY. IF IT DOES HAVE PRECANCEROUS CHANGES, HE CAN TAKE IT OUT AND PREVENT IT FROM DEVELOPING INTO CANCER.

"THIS SAMPLE IS ALMOST CERTAINLY A CANCER NOT JUST PRECANCEROUS."

DR. WALLACE SAYS THE TECHNOLOGY MAY ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR UNNECESSARY BIOPSIES AND BENIGN POLYP REMOVAL. AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE JOHN WHO GET SCREENED FOR COLON CANCER EVERY FEW YEARS.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Another potential advantage that Dr. Wallace is studying now is cost saving that could arise from not having to perform so many biopsies.

John says he knows colon cancer screening saves lives. And he hopes this technology will encourage more people to have the procedure.

This technology is being considered for use for other types of cancer screening as well. For more information, visit our Website at…

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