New DYSIS technology at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust helping to save lives in the fight against cervical cancer

New DYSIS technology at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust helping to save lives in the fight against cervical cancer.

Women across Bromley, Bexley, and Greenwich are benefiting from new technology which is preventing cervical cancer and helping women who wish to have a family. Doctors at Orpington Hospital in Orpington are using the device called a DYSIS to help detect changes in a woman’s cervix and to help guide the best course of treatment to prevent them developing full blown cancer.

The digital technology helps to pick up changes which could go on to become cancer. The advanced cervical scan is also ensuring women don’t undergo unnecessary invasive treatment which can in some cases leave them with problems during pregnancy such as increased risk of premature birth.

Doctors have said the device is helping around 1,000 women a year at the hospital and has changed the philosophy of how women are treated.

Mr Adeyemi Ogunremi, consultant gynaecologist and lead colposcopist for Princess Royal University Hospital and Orpington Hospital, part of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the device is helping to save lives.

“This technology moves things up a notch from standard techniques by using digital imaging technology, still with the basic principle of using the human eye, which enhances what I see by generating a digital map at the end of the examination.

“Now we can see pre-cancerous hot spots with increased accuracy which might not have been picked up before, which is what is unique about it. It can detect the abnormal cells, particularly the ones which need treating, to avoid women going onto develop cervical cancer.”

Women are referred to Orpington Hospital for a procedure called a colposcopy – a detailed examination of the cervix (neck of the womb) – after they have had an abnormal cervical screening test – known as a smear – which requires further investigation. Around 1,000 women attend the hospital each year to have a colposcopy procedure, and of these women, Mr Ogunremi estimates that 60% have pre-cancerous changes. He believes a proportion of those would go onto develop full blown cancer if they were left untreated.

Mr Ogunremi said the device is helping clinicians to improve accuracy for patients and should be part of a modern state-of-the-art colposcopy service. He added: “It is extremely important that women attend their cervical screening tests which can indicate abnormal changes, which we can then investigate further and treat where necessary to prevent cervical cancer.”

Meanwhile in 30% of women with mild pre-cancerous changes, the abnormal cells could regress naturally without treatment – known as LLETZ – which itself carries side effects which can impact on a woman’s fertility in some cases. “The treatment is not without its down sides, it carries a risk and can cause premature birth if a women does go onto become pregnant,” said Mr Ogunremi. “Young women who have not yet started a family are the majority of the patients we see. Fertility is an important topic and not treating them if they don’t need to be is key.

“This technology gives us increased accuracy and enables us to confidently reassure women when they don’t need treatment. In the past we would have been seeing these women again and again, which is more anxiety for the patient, now we can confidently reassure them what the best care for them is, during their first visit.”

The DYSIS – Dynamic Spectral Imaging System -uses digital imaging to help doctors identify where pre-cancerous cells are in a woman’s cervix and helps to map and measure what level the changes are so doctors can decide on the best level of treatment.

DYSIS enhances the information normally available in a traditional colposcopy which means that treatment can be given in a much more tailored fashion to the individual woman. It records the whole examination and archives it so doctors have a digital record forever. Patients can look at the screen if they wish during the examination which makes the procedure easier for them to understand.

Orpington Hospital is one of several hospitals across the country using DYSIS.

Notes to editors:

About 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK. It’s possible for women of all ages to develop cervical cancer, although the condition mainly affects sexually active women between the ages of 30 and 45. The condition is very rare in women under 25.

For more information on HPV vaccination programme please visit: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/hpv-human-papillomavirus-vaccine.aspx

For more information on the Cervical Screening Programme please visit: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening-test/pages/introduction.aspx

About DYSIS Medical:

DYSIS Medical is a medical device company which develops and manufactures imaging systems focusing on the non-invasive, in-vivo detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions. DYSIS Colposcope assists doctors, nurses and colposcopists to carry out colposcopy examinations. They use DYSIS to view a patient’s cervix, carry out the examination and use the DYSISmap to look for changes.

For more information please visit http://www.dysismedical.com

About LLETZ

In the UK, large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) is the most common treatment for abnormal cervical cells. LLETZ is also known as loop diathermy, loop cone, loop biopsy or loop excision.