Hoag has become the first hospital in the United States to offer a comprehensive, on-site program for a revolutionary, non-invasive esophageal cancer screening tool that requires no sedation and can be administered in a few minutes in a doctor’s office visit. The EsoGuard esophageal DNA test by Lucid Diagnostics uses advanced DNA sequencing to detect precancerous changes in esophageal cells, enabling physicians to screen patients at high risk for Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).
EsoGuard esophageal DNA test used to analyze cells
EsoGuard is an esophageal DNA test which detects molecular-level changes to the esophagus in a simple swallowing procedure. Patients simply swallow a tethered capsule – about the size of a gelcap – which collects cells from the esophagus as it is retrieved. These cells are then analyzed at Lucid Diagnostics’ laboratory to determine, whether there is need for additional testing or if the patient’s esophagus is healthy.
This non-invasive screening method is safe and effective, and world-renowned gastroenterologist Kenneth J. Chang, M.D., James & Pamela Muzzy Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair in GI Cancer, Hoag Digestive Health Institute, believes it will increase screening – and lower cancer rates – for people who are at increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.
EsoGuard is an important step forward in supporting early esophageal cancer intervention
“This is a game changer in our mission towards achieving an esophageal cancer-free Orange County,” said Dr. Chang. “The incidence of esophageal cancer has increased 10-fold in the past four decades, yet most patients at risk aren’t being sufficiently screened. Adding EsoGuard to our comprehensive esophageal cancer screening program here in Orange County is a critical step forward in making diagnostics more accessible to support early intervention and ultimately save lives.”
