Bubbles used to find cancer cells

The technique was pioneered at Maidstone Hospital's breast cancer unit

A new technique using tiny bubbles to detect cancer has been developed by clinicians at a hospital in Kent.

Fifty-four patients were tested in the "microbubble" study at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

The results, which were published in the British Journal of Surgery, suggested that breast cancer patients could avoid repeat surgery.

Dr Ali Sever, consultant radiologist, who led the study, said the tests transform the way they treat patients.

He said: "This is a world first. The test only takes a few minutes to perform and has transformed the way we care for patients."

Fine needle biopsy

Normally, while undergoing surgery to remove breast cancer, surgeons routinely recommend that patients also have an operation to remove glands in their armpit to check if they are cancerous.

It is found during the operation with the aid of a coloured dye and is removed for testing. If the nodes are found to be cancerous a second operation is required to remove all the remaining glands in the armpit.

Using the microbubble technique pioneered at the breast cancer unit at Maidstone Hospital, radiologists can test for cancer using only a fine needle biopsy.

The use of ultrasound with microbubbles to detect the sentinel lymph node is unique and something that will benefit breast cancer care around the world Dr Ali Sever, consultant radiologist

Surgery is then only necessary if the cancer has spread.

Radiologists inject the microbubbles, which are in a tiny amount of fluid, into the patient's breast.

The microbubbles travel to the "sentinel lymph node", the first to be affected if the cancer has spread, and can be spotted using ultrasound.

A fine needle biopsy can then be performed to see if the node is cancerous.

If the test is positive, patients have just one operation to remove all the lymph glands at the same time as their main operation.

Dr Sever added: "The use of ultrasound with microbubbles to detect the sentinel lymph node is unique and something that will benefit breast cancer care around the world."

The microbubble test was more sensitive than the coloured dye test in 89% of the cases used in the study.

'Still traumatic'

Sue Jones, a consultant breast and oncoplastic surgeon who helped developed the procedure, said: "Telling women who have undergone breast cancer surgery that they need another operation because the cancer has spread to the sentinel lymph node is the worst news they can hear.

"It is a real emotional set back in their cancer journey.

"While still traumatic, patients seem to deal with this news much better if they find out before operation that the lymph glands have cancer in them."

About 25% of breast cancer patients are found to have cancer in the sentinel lymph node and need a second operation.

Consultant breast surgeon Mr Peter Jones added: "It is possible for breast teams to use this test and thousands of women can avoid unnecessary surgery."

Beverley Wilson said she felt very privileged to have been part of the study