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The Importance of Diagnosis

Learn about Barrett's Esophagus

 

 

What should I be asking my physician?

Being an informed patient is the most important action you can take in order to manage your health. If you have been diagnosed with chronic GERD or Barrett’s Esophagus, it is essential that you learn as much as possible about your diagnostic and treatment options so that you are confident that you are not at risk for unknowingly progressing towards dysplasia or cancer. Use our Physician Locator to find a physician near you, here.

The following list of questions to ask your doctor may help you better understand your condition, how to get an accurate diagnosis, the endoscopic examination and biopsy, and treatment options.

1. How confident are you in my current diagnosis?
2. Should I be tested for GERD? Barrett’s Esophagus?
3. Should I need to be tested for Barrett’s Esophagus, even if it appears that my GERD is under control?
4. How effective are the current tools for the diagnosis of Barrett’s Esophagus?
5. How can the tests be enhanced?
6. Is there advanced imaging technology available beyond the standard of care?
7. How can a better diagnosis improve my quality of life?
8. How long does it take to receive results?
9. If I do have my Barrett’s Esophagus treated, what is the possibility that the condition will return?
10. If I do have my Barrett’s Esophagus treated, how will the physician know if the treatment worked well?
11. If I have Barrett’s Esophagus, how often will I need to be checked for dysplasia?
12. Am I at risk for esophageal cancer?
13. What are the treatments for esophageal cancer?
14. What are the outcomes for the treatment of esophageal cancer?

What are my diagnostic options?

Traditional Upper Endoscopy

In a traditional upper endoscopy, a doctor looks for conditions that indicate the potential for Barrett’s Esophagus. This can also include performing one or many biopsies to obtain tissue samples for evaluation by a pathologist to determine the presence of dysplasia or cancer. These biopsies are usually taken at random locations, creating the opportunity to miss islands of unhealthy tissue. While your doctor can usually tell you the results of endoscopy after the procedure, because the biopsy requires a separate pathological evaluation, biopsy results and diagnosis usually take days.

Targeted Biopsy in Real Time

Targeted biopsies are an enhancement of the standard of care, the traditional upper endoscopy with random biopsies. Cellvizio® real-time in vivo cellular imaging enables physicians to target biopsies during the endoscopic examination. Cellvizio targeted biopsy utilizes the world’s smallest microscope and laser imaging technology as an adjunct to the traditional endoscopic instruments. Cellvizio enables physicians to see what is otherwise invisible to the naked eye, confirming your diagnosis with confidence and accuracy. If you are faced with the challenges of chronic GERD and the need to find out if you have Barrett’s Esophagus or dysplasia within Barrett’s Esophagus, ask your physician how Cellvizio targeted biopsy can help.

Targeted biopsy with Cellvizio

Cellvizio is a real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform. Using Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE), this technology enables physicians to accelerate diagnosis, better inform treatment and improve therapy delivery. With 19 U.S. FDA 510(k) clearances, Cellvizio is clinically proven to be a safe and effective tool. This well tested and state of the art technology has positively impacted the lives of patients like you across the world.

Targeted biopsy with Cellvizio enables doctors to examine esophageal tissue at the microscopic level during an endoscopic examination, which improves traditional tissue sampling and potentially reduces the need for a separate and time-consuming pathological evaluation.

 

When physicians can see your esophageal tissue in real time, they can quickly and easily identify healthy areas from unhealthy areas – something they cannot do during a traditional endoscopy that relies on random biopsies. With unique visualization and information, you can be assured that your diagnosis is accurate and comprehensive. Put simply, Cellvizio provides confidence in your biopsy and improves your path of care, while saving you time, stress, and anxiety.

 

An Adjunct Tool, Cellvizio Enhances The Standard of Care

With more information, you have more control over how you manage your health.
Cellvizio offers you the benefits of:
– immediate tissue and cell characterization results
– real-time decision making for your physician
– improved therapeutic options for patients
– faster intervention in Barrett’s Esophagus

During your existing endoscopy procedure, your physician inserts the Cellvizio probe into the endoscope, which emits a laser that surpasses thin layers of tissue to produce a clear, real-time image of your cells. The images produced from the Cellvizio probe enable your physician to discern normal from abnormal tissue, thus confidently targeting your biopsy for the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. For the first time, you can be confident that you know what is happening inside your body.

 

An illustration of the positive impact of Cellvizio on the management of your health through an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan

See if Cellvizio is Right for You

Targeted biopsy with Cellvizio
If you are faced with the need to confirm a diagnosis for Barrett’s Esophagus,
or if you have Barrett’s Esophagus and wonder whether targeted biopsy can enhance your surveillance and/or treatment,
ask your physician about incorporating a Cellvizio procedure into your care plan.