Here at Spinney Vets we have invested in the HT Vista, an artificial intelligence cancer detection device. Sadly, half of dogs over 10 years develop cancer, and 1/3 of those cancers are skin-related. Catching cancer early means a better prognosis! Which is why we want to introduce this new technology to our dog owners. The device is safe to use on the skin and is well tolerated by patients. No- needles, gives instant results, great value for money and highly accurate.
The HT Vista is an AI skin cancer screening device for dogs, performed by vets and nurses. It is a 40-second scan, no needles and results take two minutes! The HT Vista uses heat diffusion imaging technology (HDI) to determine the cancer risk of a mass and if further investigation is required. The device heats the lump by 6’c/42’f and is left to cool. The device then monitors the thermal activity and special features of the tissue. The data is sent to the artificial intelligence for analysis, and results are returned in two minutes!
The device is able to do this as different types of skin react differently when heated! For example, healthy skin maintains temperature well and unhealthy does not! This is because healthy and unhealthy skin have different structures, metabolism, and blood supply!
Each mass will receive a cancer risk value and category, which is determined by its malignant probability. Using a screening algorithm of 90% sensitivity and 98% NPV. If the mass fits the requirements, it will also receive a diagnosis. We will discuss the results and potentially take a sample of high-scoring masses for lab analysis.
If you find a lump on your dog, book in with our team today, we can discuss your options, perform the 40-second scan and come up with a plan which works for you!
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FAQs
How does the appointment work?
Give us a call and let us know you want a skin cancer screening appointment. We will book you in for a nurse consultation where a full body physical exam will be performed and discuss the location of the lumps you are concerned about. We must clip a small patch of fur from the skin so that the device can scan properly! So let us know if this is a problem. If a lump receives a high score, we can discuss sampling the mass. If the mass scores low, then we recommend monitoring for any changes.
Will the device hurt my dog or affect the lump if it is cancer?
No, the device is non-invasive and heats the skin by 6’c/42’f with an LED light, which is safe for everyone involved.
What if the mass scores low?
This means that the masses cancer risk is below 10%. Which means we are happy for the mass to be monitored and be rescanned if there are any changes in mass size or texture.
What if a mass scores moderate?
This means the masses cancer risk scored between 10% to 50%. Meaning there is a moderate chance the mass is malignant and that further investigation is recommend. The mass might have shown some suspicious thermal features, therefore, we would highly recommend further investigating this mass. By not sampling the mass, we are taking a risk that a malignant mass might get missed. Early detection of malignant masses offers better prognosis and treatment options. The result might still return as benign, however, it is better to be safe than sorry.
What if a mass scores high?
This means that the masses cancer risk is above 50% and further investigation is required, as there is a high chance of malignancy.
During a scan, one mass received a diagnosis, and another mass did not, why is this?
Each mass is screened using the HT Vista screening algorithm, and if a mass meets the specificity requirements, it will also receive a diagnosis. In this case, where two masses were scanned, only one of the two masses met the specificity requirements and, therefore, received a diagnosis.
My dog has a lump on his eye and foot pad. Can we scan it?
Unfortunately, not. The light is too close to the eye, therefore, might damage the eye and won’t be tolerated. Also, the footpad cannot be scanned with healthy tissue which is needed to complete the scan.
My dog has a lump on his testicle. Can we scan it?
We cannot scan testicles, mammary tissue, or lymph nodes as they are different type of tissues and present differently to dermal masses.
My dog’s lump is ulcerated, can it be scanned?
Unfortunately, due to the biological nature of the disease process, these kinds of masses are excluded from our algorithm.
Does the size of the mass matter?
The mass can be a minimum 0.5cm.
Spinney Vets Lump & Bump Clinic
If you find a lump on your dog, book in with our team today at Spiney Vets in Northampton we can discuss your options, perform the 40-second scan and devise a plan that works for you.
HT Vista scanning is available at our Kettering Road site on Sundays and Mondays, and Wootton Fields on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call us on 01604 648221 to book an appointment at Kettering Road, or 01604 700366 to book at Wootton Fields.
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