Morristown Medical Center Deploys Novel Imaging Technology that May Reduce Biopsies
Morristown, New Jersey (PRWEB) November 23, 2015 -- Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, today announced it is the first and only hospital in New Jersey to use the probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy while performing endoscopic procedures—such as a colonoscopy or endoscopy. The device, called Cellvizio® and only offered at three hospitals in the state, offers high resolution and magnification of the tissue during these procedures, potentially preventing unnecessary biopsies and decreasing the number or size of biopsies taken.
Once a patient is injected with a dye that allows doctors to see lesions, polyps, or areas of tissue that may be problematic, the microscopic optic fibers at the bottom of the laser device highlight suspicious areas in blue light, indicating the need for closer examination. In patients with severe disease or damage, the device allows doctors to obtain a more precise view of the disease and recommend more tailored treatment.
In the case of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), for instance, a gastroenterologist may take ten targeted samples using microscopy, compared to 60 to 80 random biopsies taken during a traditional colonoscopy. This reduces the chance of infection, which is a risk any time there is a cut or incision.
“This is a completely new, novel way to look at suspicious tissues without removing them unnecessarily,” says Razvan Arsenescu, MD, PhD, division chief of the Atlantic Digestive Institute at Morristown Medical Center. “It’s like using a black light to read the writing from an invisible ink pen—because the images are so sharp, comparable to what we’d see in an actual biopsy, gastroenterologists with specialized training are able to use it to confirm a diagnosis immediately, versus waiting days for pathology reports.”
This technology was previously available only in Europe and select U.S. medical centers. Arsenescu is part of a team that has been working to bring this technique to the U.S. through the FDA approval process.
In addition to endoscopic procedures, the laser is also used for procedures in urology, gynecology, and pulmonology.
Learn more about digestive health and diseases at Morristown Medical Center here: http://www.atlantichealth.org/digestivediseases.
About Morristown Medical Center
Morristown Medical Center, located in Morristown, NJ, is a nationally-ranked regional medical center and a recognized leader in cardiovascular medicine, orthopedics and nursing. The hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top hospital nationwide for cardiology and heart surgery, geriatrics, orthopedics and pulmonology. Morristown Medical Center also ranked as a “Best Regional Hospital” for neurology and neurosurgery, as well as gastroenterology & GI Surgery, gynecology, nephrology and urology. Morristown Medical Center’s Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute performs more cardiac surgeries than any other hospital in New Jersey, placing its cardiac program in the top two percent in the country. The Atlantic Orthopedic Institute at Morristown Medical Center does the highest volume of joint and spine surgeries in New Jersey. In 2014, the hospital was re-designated a Magnet Hospital for Excellence in Nursing Service, the highest level of recognition by American Nurses Credentialing Center for facilities that provide acute care services, a distinction awarded to less than five percent of U.S. hospitals. Morristown Medical Center is certified as a Level I Regional Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons, and designated a Level II Trauma Center by the state of New Jersey. Morristown Medical Center is part of Atlantic Health System, one of the largest non-profit health care systems in New Jersey. Atlantic Health System has created a Trusted Network of Caring™. Our promise to our communities is that anyone who enters our system will receive the right care, at the right quality, at the right time, at the right place and at the right cost. Learn more about our Trusted Network of Caring™ at Morristown Medical Center.
Elaine Andrecovich, Atlantic Health System, +1 973 971 4932, [email protected]
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