Ultrasound procedure for cancer patients at Wansbeck General
Lung cancer patients in Northumberland are benefiting from a new ultrasound procedure at Wansbeck General Hospital, which provides a fast and accurate diagnosis of their condition. The endobronchial ultrasound test involves patients having a highly-sensitive camera fed into their lung, which detects lymph nodes and tumours outside the lung wall. The equipment has been provided by a £100,000 grant from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's charitable funds. Dr Mark Weatherhead, consultant respiratory physician at the trust, said: "The respiratory team is delighted to be able to offer this specialist service to our patients. Endobronchial ultrasound allows us to see small nodes and take tissue samples where necessary and means patients can come into the unit to have the procedure and go home later the same day."
