Arrive Magazine - May/June 2012

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;Deanne Sherman didn’t like her options. Diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus— a condition caused by chronic heartburn that can lead to cancer—she was told she might have to have her esophagus removed to prevent cancer.

Fearing such a drastic measure, Sherman decided to get a second opinion at Lankenau Medical Center, just outside of Philadelphia in Wynnewood, PA. Using a new imaging technology containing the world’s smallest flexible microscope, known as Cellvizio, gastroenterologist Bob Etemad, M.D., was able to find that a major surgical procedure such as an esophagectomy was not necessary.

Lankenau is currently the only hospital in the Philadelphia region using Cellvizio to help patients like Sherman.

IMPROVED DETECTION AND FASTER TREATMEN T Cellvizio is used during an endoscopy, a procedure that examines the inside of the body using a thin, flexible tube. The miniature microscope is threaded through the endoscope and allows doctors to view internal tissues at the cellular level in real time.

Studies have shown that having this cell-by-cell view of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs can lead to improved disease detection and faster treatment.

“Until now, if we found areas that appeared abnormal
during an endoscopy we would have to take random
tissue samples and send them to a lab for analysis, which
can take up to a week,” says Dr. Etemad. “With Cellvizio,
we have a tool that provides us with a closer view of the
lining of the GI tract. This closer view allows us to gather
more information to help us guide biopsy and treatment
decisions in real time. Thanks to Cellvizio, we now have
more visual information about internal tissues at the
patient’s bedside than ever before.”
For Sherman, Lankenau o;ered something she
desired—another option.

“Today, after three minimally invasive endoscopies,
the doctors at Lankenau have informed me that I remain
cancer-free,” she says, “and I was able to keep my
esophagus and quality of life.”
Cellvizio can be used to
diagnose gastrointestinal
cancers and other GI diseases,
including those of the colon, bile
duct, pancreas and esophagus.