Endoscopic placement
Placement of Gold Anchor through endoscope in central lung, esophagus, pancreas, and rectal tumors is possible by using Gold Anchor Introducer. Gold Anchor Introducer is delivered pre-loaded with the Gold Anchor MR+ (1.5% Fe) marker inside. It comes in a blister single pack, sterilized, ready for use, with the marker length clearly indicated on the package. The Introducer is used to transfer the marker over into a 22G endoscopic ultrasound aspiration needle (“EUS Needle”).
When pushed out of the EUS Needle during implantation, the marker will collapse and fold to different shapes, anchoring immediately in the tissue. The marker can be visualized under ultrasound, magnetic resonance (MRI), computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy or 2D X-rays at the planning stage and daily during radiotherapy.
The Gold Anchor Introducer is currently available for sale in Europe and the USA.
Gold Anchor Introducer device makes it easy, quick, and safe to transfer the Gold Anchor marker over into the needle tip of 22G EUS needles.
How to transfer the marker
- Retract the stylet of the EUS Needle about 8 cm (3 inches) and keep the EUS needle tip inside its sheath.
- Hold the EUS Needle sheath vertically and place the Introducer on top of the sheath.
- Gently insert the EUS Needle sheath all the way to the top of the inspection hole.
- Lock the position of the EUS Needle sheath to the Introducer with a steady grip.
- Push the stylet of the Introducer all the way to its end position to deploy the marker.
Learn more
”Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fiducial Placement for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer”. The study includes 230 fiducial marker placements in 82 patients during the period 2016 to 2022. Gold Anchor was used in 78% of the patients.
– Article from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, USA
“Visibility, artifact and migrations using three types of fiducials for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)”. Includes 55 patients that got 167 markers implanted endoscopically in pancreas during the period Aug 2014 – Feb 2017. Gold Anchor represented 62% out of the markers used.
– Abstract from Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA
“EUS-guided fiducial marker placement in patients with pancreatic cancer: a comparative analysis for safety and technical feasibility”. Includes 377 patients that got 1076 markers implanted endoscopically in pancreas during the period Jun 2010 – Apr 2017. Gold Anchor (GAF) represented 65% out of the markers used.
– Abstract from Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA
“EUS-guided placement of fiducial markers for the treatment of pancreatic cancer”. The study describes the technique for placement of fiducial markers with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guidance for pancreatic cancer patients that will receive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT). The video in the below link shows Gold Anchor implanted in a pancreatic cancer patient with a 22G EUS-FNA needle. Please note that the back-loading technique shown in the video is now possible with the Gold Anchor Introducer device.
– Article from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, USA
The image shows a 0.28×10 mm Gold Anchor marker implanted in pancreas.
Image courtesy of Reiko Ashida, MD, PhD, FASGE, Co-Director, Departments of Cancer Survey and Gastrointestinal Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Japan.
“EUS guided fiducial marker placement (EUS-FP) is an important method to place a fiducial marker safely and precisely especially into pancreatic cancer. Gold Anchor is an ideal marker for EUS-FP as it is easily back loaded into a FNA needle.”
Gold Anchor placed in oesophagus with endoscopic needle
The image shows two ball-shaped 0.28×10 mm Gold Anchor MR+ markers implanted in a flat esophageal mucosal lesion. The Gold Anchors are placed to mark the cranial and caudal borders of the tumor.
The markers were implanted freehand under fluoroscopy with an ultrathin gastroscope using a 22G FNA needle from Cook Medical.
Image courtesy of Dr. Khanh Do-Cong Pham, Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.
