NHS trial cuts brain tumour diagnosis to two hours during surgery
The NHS is piloting an ultra-rapid genomic test that diagnoses brain tumours in about two hours while patients are still in surgery, instead of six to eight weeks later.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The NHS is trialling an ultra-rapid genomic test for brain tumours that can give a definitive diagnosis while a patient is still on the operating table. The health service in England says the test is a huge leap forward because it cuts the wait for an accurate diagnosis from six to eight weeks after surgery to about two hours.
The test was developed by scientists at the University of Nottingham in partnership with hospital clinicians. It analyses the genetic code of a tumour, producing a genomic fingerprint that can identify its type and grade. During surgery, tissue samples are taken to pathology labs and fed into an ultra-rapid sequencing machine. DNA molecules pass through a nanopore, a tiny hole, and the results are sent back to the operating theatre.
More than 12,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour. There are around 150 different types, and surgeons often cannot be sure what they are dealing with until after an operation. The new test is intended to remove that uncertainty during surgery.
Steve Palmer, 55, had surgery at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre. A scan showed a tumour in his right frontal lobe, about five or six centimetres across. His diagnosis took just two hours while he was still in theatre. He was told he had a grade four tumour, glioblastoma. His treatment plan can be fed back within days rather than weeks, meaning chemotherapy and radiotherapy can start sooner. The full genetic profile of his tumour may also open the door to clinical trials.
One surgeon said the speed of the test was almost magical and added a new level of information. It would guide decisions about how much surgery to do and how extensive an operation should be. The lead surgeon said that if a tumour is found to be curable, surgeons may be more radical to remove as much as possible, because they must balance removing tumour tissue against damaging healthy tissue. At present some patients need a second operation because they only learn weeks later that their tumour was curable.
Pathologists said they still use microscopes, but that molecular and genomic sequencing gives far more detailed results. Steve said the rapid result helped remove potentially weeks of anxiety. "Obviously it wasn't what I wanted to hear, but let's get on to the next phase of treatment and recovery and get on to fighting whatever I've got to fight," he said.
Four neurosurgery units in London, Birmingham and Newcastle are also piloting the rapid genomic tests, with other hospitals expected to follow.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| An NHS rapid test can shorten accurate brain tumour diagnosis from eight weeks to two hours. | ||
| Four neurosurgery units in London, Birmingham and Newcastle are piloting the rapid genomic tests. | ||
| More than 12,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour, of which there are around 150 different types. | ||
| Steve Palmer was diagnosed with grade four glioblastoma, and the test result meant chemotherapy and radiotherapy could start sooner. | ||
| The rapid genomic test was developed by University of Nottingham scientists with hospital clinicians. | ||
| The rapid test analyses a brain tumour's genetic code to provide surgeons with results during surgery. | ||
| The NHS in England described the rapid brain tumour test as a major advance for patients. | · | |
| The rapid test enables more tailored surgery and reduces the time patients spend uncertain about their diagnosis. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This bulletin led with the NHS trial as a UK health story before moving to football governance. It focused on the speed gain from eight weeks to two hours, the genetic code analysis, the Nottingham patient case and the four pilot neurosurgery units. The tone was straightforward and clinical, with no extra studio discussion.
- “Here in the UK a new rapid test for brain tumors being trialled by the National Health Service can shorten the time it takes for an accurate diagnosis from eight weeks to two hours.”
- “The test analyses the genetic code of the tumour which means surgeons get the results while they're still operating.”
- “It's almost magical that you can do things that quickly.”
The lunchtime programme used the same medical editor package but added a studio debrief after it. That extra context focused on how the result could change surgical decisions, including more radical surgery for curable tumours, and on how genomic sequencing compares with traditional microscopy. It also included the full genetic profile and clinical trial point.
- “The NHS in England says new rapid tests for brain tumours represent a huge leap forward.”
- “The lead surgeon you saw in that report told me that if they find they have a curable tumour they'll be more radical to ensure they get as much of it as possible”
- “Pathologists told me that they still look down microscopes but that is crystal ball gazing compared to the molecular and genomic sequencing results they get from this test.”
This shorter bulletin carried the NHS rapid test as a top item with a simple anchor introduction and the medical editor's package. It stressed the huge leap forward for patients, the drop from eight weeks to two hours, and the tailored surgical approach, but did not include the later studio discussion about curable tumours or pathologists' views.
- “A new rapid test for brain tumors shortening the time for an accurate diagnosis from eight weeks to just two hours Is being described as a huge leap forward for patients by the nhs”
- “The test means surgeons get the result while they're still operating allowing them to tailor their approach and sparing patients weeks of uncertainty”
- “It's almost magical that you can do things that quickly”
This weather bulletin version repeated the core NHS trial report and the Steve Palmer case. It kept the focus on the two-hour diagnosis, the glioblastoma result, and the treatment plan moving within days rather than weeks. It moved on quickly to a U2 anniversary item after the package.
- “A new rapid test for brain tumours shortening the time a patient receives an accurate diagnosis is being described as a huge leap forward by the NHS.”
- “The test means surgeons can get the result in two hours while they're still operating, allowing them to tailor their approach and sparing patients weeks of uncertainty.”
- “I think this would be most in keeping with the glioblastoma.”
The evening news bulletin treated the NHS trial as a major UK health story before a global roundup. It carried the full package, including the eight-week to two-hour diagnosis, the 12,000 annual UK cases, the glioblastoma diagnosis and the pilot units. The tone was factual and did not add new scrutiny beyond the medical editor's report.
- “To the UK now, and a new rapid test for brain tumors shortening the time for an accurate diagnosis from eight weeks to two hours is being described as a huge leap forward for patients by the NHS.”
- “The test means that surgeons get the result while they're still operating, allowing them to tailor their approach in sparing patients weeks of uncertainty.”
- “It's almost magical that you can do things that quickly.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 12:21 BST
- 12:23 BST
Stuart Smith, Neurosurgeon
“It's almost magical that you can do things that quickly.”
BBC News Now · Fri 25 Sept - 00:21 BST
- 00:22 BST
- 13:18 BST
- 13:19 BST
- 18:26 BST
“Hopefully all of it removed would be great and then it can go on with recovery and whatever comes next and then it's getting”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 18:26 BST
Stuart Smith, neurosurgeon
“This is the right frontal lobe where the the white area represents the tumor within his brain”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 22:24 BST
- 22:24 BST
Stuart Smith, Neurosurgeon
“Neurosurgeon Stuart Smith shows me a scan of Steve's brain.”
BBC News and Weather · Fri 25 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
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