New rapid test cuts brain tumour diagnosis time from weeks to hours
UKPulse Health Desk
A new genomic test being piloted by NHS England can reduce the time for an accurate brain tumour diagnosis from up to eight weeks to two hours, potentially allowing patients to start treatment sooner.
- The new genomic test can provide an accurate brain tumour diagnosis in two hours, down from up to eight weeks.
- The test analyses the genetic code of a tumour sample and is being piloted in specialist centres across England.
- Faster diagnosis could enable patients to begin treatment, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, more quickly and potentially influence surgical decisions.
NHS England has begun piloting a rapid new test for brain tumours that can significantly reduce diagnosis time. The genomic test, which analyses the genetic code of a tumour sample, can provide an accurate diagnosis in as little as two hours, a substantial reduction from the previous timeframe of up to eight weeks.
This accelerated diagnosis aims to allow patients to commence treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy sooner, while also alleviating weeks of uncertainty. For some patients, the test can even provide results while surgeons are still operating to remove the tumour, potentially influencing surgical decisions.
The pilot program involves five specialist centres located in Nottingham, Birmingham, London, and Newcastle. Plans are in place to extend the pilot to additional sites in Bristol, Oxford, Leeds, and Manchester at a later stage.
More than 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year. Brain tumours are identified as the leading cancer killer for children and adults under 40.
Why this matters: Faster diagnosis of brain tumours can reduce patient anxiety, allow for earlier commencement of appropriate treatment, and potentially enable surgeons to make more informed decisions during operations.
What this means for you: If you are diagnosed with a brain tumour, this new test could mean a significantly faster diagnosis, potentially reducing your waiting time for results from weeks to hours and allowing for quicker access to treatment.