Cancer Detection Centre Installs New Endoscopy Technology

EHM News Bureau

Narendrakumar Baldota (R) and Dr Amit Maydeo at the inauguration

Ailments of the stomach are on rise with nearly 60 per cent of our population suffering from some or the other stomach problem - including acidity, heartburn, gas, jaundice, and constipation. Cancers of the digestive system too have been on the rise with their incidence increasing more than three times in the last 25 years. Keeping this fact in mind, latest endoscopy technology has been installed at the Abheraj Baldota Cancer Detection Centre at the Institute of Advanced Endoscopy in South Mumbai, to help early detection and cure of cancer ailments related to the abdomen region.

The Centre is the first in India to install the following technologies: Hi-magnification Endoscope, Digital Endosonography, and Narrow Band Imaging. The technology was provided by Japan-based Olympus and the cost of installation was over Rs 1.5 crore.

Dr Amit Maydeo, Director of the Institute of Advanced Endoscopy and a pioneer in introducing endoscopy as a diagnostic measure in the country, said, "Instead of a one-to-one magnification of what is seen through the endoscope, these have a magnification capability of more than 100 per cent. It is this clarity that helps us detect ailments, including cancer, at a very early stage."

More than 80 per cent of digestive cancers are incurable as patients come in for a health check up at an advanced stage. These endoscopes have extremely high-resolution video technology with ultra-high magnification capabilities and with signals transmitted to a high definition television. With this, the internal lining can now be scanned with precision and accuracy, thereby allowing picking up even very early abnormalities affecting the digestive organs.

Narendra Baldota, Chairman of MSPL Limited, who has funded the project and is a prominent city-based philanthropist said, "We are pleased to be associated with the Institute of Advanced Endoscopy in setting up the Cancer Detection Centre. Endoscopy has been one of the main techniques to diagnose cancers affecting the food pipe, stomach, colon, pancreas and liver. We have introduced one of the latest endoscopes available globally and the first of its kind in the country to ensure that cancer is detected early and a large number of people get timely cure against this dreaded disease."

"As the Baldota family believes in philanthrophy, we have a reservation of 40 per cent for patients referred from government or municipal hospitals," quips Dr Maydeo.