Pill-Sized camera could spot esophagus cancer risk during routine checkups
NCT ID NCT04561791
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study is testing a new, less invasive way to screen for Barrett's esophagus, a condition that can lead to esophageal cancer. Participants swallow a small capsule attached to a thin string, which takes pictures of the esophagus. The goal is to see if this method is comfortable and effective enough to be used in regular doctor visits, potentially catching the condition earlier.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a simple, office-based screening tool for Barrett's esophagus, potentially catching it earlier without the need for a traditional endoscopy.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early feasibility study with only 650 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The device may be uncomfortable or miss some cases, and it is not yet proven as a standard screening method.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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