2023-07-08 11:38:00
Skin cancers are on the rise. 50,000 new cases are discovered each year in Belgium. To detect them, UZ Ghent has a new scanner, unique in Belgium. This device makes it possible to know very quickly whether the tumor is benign or malignant. At first glance, you might think it’s an ultrasound. But applied directly to the skin of patients, a scanner allows doctors to see what is happening under the skin via a screen.
“Normally, in case of suspicion of cancer, we do an injection and a swab to be able to analyze the sample in the laboratory and inspect it under the microscope. All this takes regarding two weeks. Whereas with this device, it goes very quickly. It takes half an hour. No sting, no inconvenience for the patient and a clear result that can take away some of the worry.” explains Isabelle Hoorens, dermatologist at UZ Ghent.
Skin cancer is the most common, far ahead of breast cancer. 50,000 new cases each year in Belgium, all ages combined. This innovation is very useful for people for whom a biopsy is too invasive. Especially children or the elderly. To date, there is only one scanner of this type in Flanders.
UZ Ghent charges 50 euros more, an additional cost not reimbursed for the moment.
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