Another first at a Glasgow hospital, who have been trialling a less invasive endoscopy procedure.
Available to selected patients, the cytosponge test is a simple safe and effective way of diagnosing oesophageal (gullet) conditions. It involves a specially designed capsule attached to a string which is swallowed by the patient. The capsule dissolves in the stomach to reveal a tiny sponge which the clinical team then recovers from the patient by pulling the string. On the way back up, the sponge collects cells in the oesophagus which can then be analysed for abnormalities by the clinical team. The test will help diagnose conditions such as Barrett’s Oesophagus, which is a risk factor for oesophageal cancer.