New cutting-edge equipment has been donated to the city hospital to help diagnose patients with head and neck cancers earlier and help save lives.
The £44,000 endoscopy equipment uses fibre-optic technology and a state-of-the-art camera to show minute details in the throat.
Surgeons using the technology can also be guided more accurately when carrying out procedures to remove a tumour.
It is vital that people suffering from these types of cancers are given treatment as early as possible to give them the best chance of survival.
The technology also provides more detailed follow-up examinations reducing the need of unnecessary anaesthetics for repeated biopsies.
The endoscope was gifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by charity Friends of Anchor, following a generous donation from construction firm WM Donald.
Consultant ENT Surgeon at NHS Grampian, Professor Kim Ah-See, said it had been a major boost to the hospital since its arrival in April.
He said: “The use of this type of endoscope can transform the accuracy of early detection for patients who come to the clinic with suspected tumours of the throat.
“It works by using fibre optic technology, which means light can be carried around corners, making it ideal for use in the throat. With the press of a button the light can be filtered to enhance the visibility of abnormal blood vessels. This gives us very high-definition colour-filtered images of the inside the patient’s throat when we’re trying to detect cancer or any pre-cancerous conditions.
“The entire procedure now lasts just two minutes, more than half the time of usual endoscopies.
“Furthermore, no anaesthetic or numbing spray is required with this new equipment.”
If laryngeal cancer is not picked up early enough, the chances of the patient surviving for another five years is just 50%.
But Professor Kim said the new equipment increases the likelihood of early detection and so almost doubles the survival rate.
Friends of Anchor said at least 800 people will have used the machine by next April.
Elaine Donald, director at WM Donald, had a chance to view the life-saving endoscopy machine yesterday.
She said: “We were so pleased to be able to donate £60,000 to Friends of Anchor, with the majority of that going towards this new piece of equipment for head and neck cancer patients.
“Friends of Anchor is a charity we have had the pleasure of supporting for a number of years and will continue to do so.”