Knife that ‘smells tumours’ can detect womb cancer within seconds

A revolutionary surgical knife that "smells" tumours can diagnose womb cancer within seconds, researchers have found, which could allow thousands of healthy women to get the all-clear quicker.

The disease is the fourth most common cancer in women and affects about 9000 people a year in the UK, but only 10% of them are found to have it.

The iKnife, a device that is already used to treat breast and brain cancer, can be used to detect the presence of endometrial cancer.

The team of researchers wrote that the iKnife reliably diagnosed endometrial cancer in seconds, with a diagnostic accuracy of 89%. The findings of this study can lead to new diagnostic pathways.

The iKnife uses electrical currents to differentiate between cancer and healthy tissue by analyzing the smoke that comes from the removal of the uterus.

In order to prove its effectiveness, the researchers used samples from 150 women with suspected womb cancer. A major clinical trial is planned by the team which could lead to widespread use.

The chief executive of the Eve Appeal cancer charity, which funded the research, said that waiting for test results can be hard. The days can't pass quickly until a clinician gives you the all clear after you hear that the 'c' word is a possibility.

One symptom ofomb cancer that should always be checked out on a two week referral from your GP is postmenopausal bleeding. It can be hard for patients to wait more than a week for the results.

One of the reasons for abnormal vaginal bleeding after the menopause is womb cancer, and the ability to provide a diagnostic test that rules cancer in or out immediately could make such a positive difference.

The research supported by Eve has the potential to create a step change in faster diagnosis and for the majority of women with postmenopausal bleeding that isn't cancer. This is important for patients.

Alison, a 57-year-old from west London who had symptoms of womb cancer earlier this year, said the iKnife would have made a huge difference to her experience.

I was lucky to find out that it wasn't caused by cancer. It was really hard to wait for the results.

It was obvious to me that it was bad news and I had womb cancer, so I went in person to get the results. It was frightening at the same time.

It would have made a huge difference if I knew I didn't have cancer immediately.

Prof Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami, who led the research at Imperial College London, said that if a woman is confirmed to have cancer, she can start treatment sooner if she is healthy.

The iKnife has the potential to change the way we treat people with abnormal vaginal bleeding who have been referred for a potential diagnosis of cancer.

With the iKnife's high diagnostic accuracy of 89% and positive predictive value of 94%, one could immediately assure the person of the very low likelihood of having cancer if the results are negative. Standard pathology can take up to two weeks to confirm.