Advances in screening technology are making colonoscopy more accurate and efficient than ever before. In July, Franklin Surgery Center became one of the first sites in Tennessee to adopt the FUSE® Full Spectrum Endoscopy®.
Franklin Gastroenterology’s Wilmot Burch, Jr., MD, said he was introduced to the scope at a national conference and was intrigued by the idea of 330-degree visibility. “When it comes to colon cancer prevention, every innovation with colonoscopy has been to improve visualization and detection,” Burch said.
Traditional forward-viewing (TVF) endoscopes generally capture a 170-degree view of the colon. With almost double the field of view, EndoChoice, manufacturer of the FUSE Full Spectrum Endoscopy, claims their system detected 69 percent more adenomas than TVF during a multi-center tandem trial.
Three weeks after implementing FUSE in his Franklin practice, Burch, a board certified gastroenterologist, said the procedure feels the same as traditional scopes but with a few adjustments — greater views mean three screens to monitor instead of one and a clearer view of angles means easier navigation.
“In the past few weeks I can think of at least a half dozen times I saw polyps I hadn’t seen before because they were in an extreme visual field on one side or the other,” Burch said. “We’re not perfect and technology isn’t either, but I know I’m seeing polyps easier than I did before.”
Another diagnostic innovation scheduled to hit Franklin Gastroenterology this month is PillCam® COLON. Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration gave limited approval for use of the non-invasive, radiation-free imaging solution for the detection of colon polyps in patients after an incomplete optical (failed) colonoscopy. Previously, the FDA has approved capsule imaging for use in the small intestine and esophagus.
Burch, who is undergoing training on the new PillCam this month, said he suspects broader approval will be forthcoming. In addition to its approved use, it also could be offered as a screening tool for those who are resistant to traditional colonoscopy, but the diagnostic tool wouldn’t be covered by insurance given current FDA clearance. Still, Burch said, it’s a good alternative for someone who might otherwise forego screening altogether. Much broader use of the technology has already been approved in Europe, Japan, Canada and Australia.
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