A device and app are being piloted by the NHS to help offer patients the all-clear for suspected throat cancer faster.

The innovative adapter provides a 32mm lens and accompanying app that can turn an iPhone into a portable diagnostic gadget used by nurses to detect or rule out throat cancer.

The device captures live endoscopy examinations of the throat in high definition (HD), which can then be instantly shared with specialist head and neck consultants via a secure data cloud. A consultant then reviews the video footage and can rapidly detect any traces of cancer reporting this directly to the patient.

The technology is initially being rolled out across the West Midlands, with the potential of the gadget being used in any NHS setting, helping to freeing up time and resources in hospitals for cancer patients and reduce waiting times for treatment.

Head and neck cancers are difficult to detect early, so improving access to diagnostics for those small numbers of patients that do have cancer will result in more successful outcomes and an overall cost benefit to the NHS.

Cally Palmer, NHS England national cancer director, said, “Detecting cancer early is key to providing treatment as soon as possible to help give patients the best chance of survival. For those needing tests to investigate suspected cancer, it can be an extremely worrying time and being able to rule out the disease sooner can make a huge difference for people and their families.

“While staff have been working hard to see and treat more people with cancer than ever before, we know that some people are still waiting too long to receive a diagnosis or the all-clear. The NHS continues to adopt the latest technologies with the potential to benefit patients, and through pioneering new innovations like this iPhone device which could be used in any setting, we hope we’ll be able to detect many more cancers sooner and in ways that are more convenient and less invasive for patients.”

Initial trial

An initial trial on triaged low-risk patients at North Midlands University Hospitals NHS Trust found that no cancers were missed using this device with patients receiving their results within 23 hours of the test.

Over 1,800 patients have been reassured they do not have a cancer of the throat within just a few days, while healthcare professionals have been able to focus their resources on the smaller numbers who have a confirmed cancer diagnosis.

Most patients identified at low-risk who have been examined using the device had cancer ruled out, although around one in a hundred of this low-risk group were discovered to have cancer using the gadget.

Karin Smyth, minister of health, said, “This technology is a shining example of how innovation and research can tackle waiting lists, improve patient experience and speed up diagnosis.

“Using the app, patients can access a potentially lifesaving consultation. By catching cancer earlier and treating it faster, we can ensure more people survive this horrible disease. Harnessing technology to support the NHS is a key part of our 10-Year Health Plan, and will shift the NHS from analogue to digital, equipping the health service with more cutting edge-technologies to catch cancers on time.”

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