Monklands Hospital has become the first in the UK to pilot new technology aiming to use advanced imaging and artificial intelligence to improve early diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Staff at the Airdrie hospital are using a digital cytology system which creates on-screen images of smear test samples which have tested positive for human papilloma virus (HPV) which allows more rapid reviewing and diagnosis of any abnormalities.
Prelimary results from its first nine months are described as “promising”, resulting in faster turnaround times for analysis of samples and increasing the team’s capacity by 25 per cent – with the company behind the technology saying it “has [the] potential to transform the cervical screening programme”.
Monklands is one of only two labs in Scotland which analyses cervical smear sample, and was invited to trial the GeniusTM digital diagnostics system by supplier Hologic, a women’s health company.
It creates digital images of HPV-positive smear slides which are rapidly reviewed using an advanced assessment algorithm, providing screeners with an image gallery of the most “diagnostically relevant cells” – which “helps medical experts more rapidly identify and accurately diagnose abnormalities as they have fewer cells to analyse”.
Consultant biomedical scientist Allan Wilson, who is leading the pilot for NHS Lanarkshire, spoke positively about the pilot programme and praised the “really dedicated” team trialling the new technology.
He told Lanarkshire Live: “We knew this technology was in development and the equipment was offered as something we might want to look at as part of the national screening programme to validate and test.
“It presents large high-resolution images on big screens, identifying areas on the slide where cells may be present and directing the screener.
“Most people have found it quicker and it’s increased our capacity, and it’s good to see this coming to Lanarkshire.”
He added: “Looking for abnormal cells is like trying to find a needle in a haystack because in some cases there are only around 50 abnormal cervical cells in a sample that may contain 15,000 normal cells.
“This pilot with Hologic has shown how digital cytology can revolutionise our analysis process and preliminary results are promising – the team at Monklands has increased capacity by around 25% in slide assessment and improved analysis turnaround times, as well as allowing screeners to dedicate more time to training on the latest technologies and dealing with difficult-to-diagnose cases.
“We’re now undertaking a retrospective study, testing the system’s performance against previous known results; this will then provide the clinical data to make a recommendation on the use of digital cytology in the cervical screening programme in Scotland. Through AI and digital diagnostics, we have the potential to improve outcomes for women not only in Scotland, but around the world.”
More than 3000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with six women diagnosed in Scotland every week.
Hologic UK and Ireland general manager Tim Simpson said: “We’re proud to be working with University Hospital Monklands on this ground-breaking pilot, using our digital cytology system to help speed up detection of pre-cancerous cervical cells and cancer cells.
“Digital cytology has a key role to play in ensuring pre-cancerous cells are picked up early and treated so fewer women go on to develop cervical cancer. Our goal is to help create a world where no woman dies from cervical cancer.”
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