Cytosponge: A Review on new non-endoscopic cell collection device

Cytosponge is a non-invasive device having a similar size to the tablets of regular taking that is used in place of endoscopy in some areas of detection because it is accurate, safe, and relatively inexpensive when compared to endoscopy. It is also called ‘sponge on a string’ because of pill attached with a string that is taken with water and lidocaine throat spray may be used to reduce the minor discomforts during application of the cytosponge and after 3 to 5 min withdraw by the string. It is made up of polyester sponge material compressed within a capsule 8.5 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length and the outer layer is made up of gelatin attach to 70mm long string. It is given to the patients with a sufficient amount of water and the gelatin part disappears when the cytosponge reaches the stomach. It collects about a million cells from the oral cavity and stomach, including Fusobacterium, Megasphaera, Campylobacter, Capnocytophaga, and Dialister. The cells are isolated and tests are performed to determine whether the cells are malignant or normal for detection and any detection is carried out by different biomarkers like TFF3, Aura-k, TFPI2, TWIST1, ZNF345, and ZNF569. The most used biomarker is TFF3. Cytosponge is used for the detection of Barrett’s oesophagus, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, oesophageal microbiota, Precancerous Mucosal Changes like Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) and gastric atrophy (GA), Esophageal dysplasia, other gastrointestinal pathologies, Esophageal Diseases, and H. pylori. It is also used as a gastrointestinal endoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic. New research is being taken for AI and cytosponge combine technology.