Trial of non-invasive endometriosis scan boosts hopes for quicker diagnosis
A non-invasive scan for endometriosis has shown promising results in a trial, boosting hopes for far quicker diagnosis.The trial, which included 19 women with the condition, suggests that an experimental radiotracer, called maraciclatide, can “light up” endometriosis on a scan.The current need for a surgical investigation is seen as a major obstacle to timely diagnosis, with women in England typically waiting nearly a decade.Prof Krina Zondervan, head of department at the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health (NDWRH) at the University of Oxford, and co-lead on the study, said: “The most prevalent subtype of endometriosis currently evades reliable detection, leaving women no choice for diagnosis other than invasive surgery.If these results are confirmed in larger phase 3 studies, imaging with maraciclatide could transform clinical research and practice and potentially empower the development of treatments for women across the globe.
”Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to that found in the womb lining grows elsewhere, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes,Symptoms include painful periods, painful bowel movements, pain when urinating and pain during or after sex,It is thought to affect about one in 10 women and can affect fertility,There are treatments, including hormone medication and surgery, but the lengthy delays to diagnosis have been a continuing problem,Research by the charity Endometriosis UK suggests women in England currently wait an average of 9 years 4 months – rising to 11 years for women from ethnic minority communities.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, highlighted the problem in the government’s renewed Women’s Health Strategy, earlier this month,Endometriosis can progress, leading to more severe physical symptoms and restricting the ability to make informed choices around fertility,Peritoneal endometriosis, the earliest and most common form of the condition, cannot be reliably detected with existing imaging techniques,Standard MRI scans are typically only able to pick up structural changes that appear with more advanced disease,The latest trial investigated the use of a radiotracer, called maraciclatide, developed by the UK-based company Serac.
The tracer is designed to bind to tissue that is in the process of creating new blood vessels – a cardinal feature of endometriosis.Nineteen patients, all due to undergo laproscopies for endometriosis, were given an infusion of the tracer and then underwent a scan called a Spect-CT.The scan results aligned with the surgical diagnosis in 16 out of 19 cases and there were no false positives.Serac said it plans to validate the findings in larger phase 3 trials.If confirmed as effective, a minimally invasive scan could make it easier to run trials for new treatments.
Dr Tatjana Gibbons, lead author on the paper and also of the NDWRH, said: “These exciting findings indicate that maraciclatide offers a highly promising diagnostic and monitoring tool, particularly for superficial peritoneal endometriosis, which is the most common and yet the hardest type of endometriosis to identify.”The findings are published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health.This article was amended on 30 April 2026.Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to that found in the womb lining grows elsewhere in the body; an earlier version said that it was the same tissue.
Why sweet, chewy dates go perfectly with chocolate – and the best ones to try
I first cemented the allure of the “chew” aged 14, working illegally as a chambermaid (I lied about my age) and finding a guest’s Gummy Bears laid open – a breach I heavily exploited. Recently this chew need has been sated by dates and their use in chocolate as a healthy caramel. Dates do have nutritional benefits over mere sugar: fibre, minerals, antioxidants and make a great pre-workout boost.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link
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Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for green chilli eggs with coriander and coconut | Quick and easy
This might look like a shakshuka, but with lemongrass, ginger and lime, you couldn’t really get away with calling it one – particularly because the noodles make this an easy, flavour-packed one-pan dinner. The crunch of the peanuts is particularly good against the lime-spiked coconut milk – a perfect transitional “is it spring yet?” dinner.Prep 15 min Cook 15 min Serves 21½ tbsp neutral oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated½ stick lemongrass, finely chopped½-1 green chilli, finely chopped (remove the pith and seeds first if you want less heat)5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely gratedJuice and zest of 1 lime 2 large echalion shallots (or small onions), peeled and finely sliced1 tsp freshly ground coriander seeds 1 tsp flaky sea salt 320g baby spinach400ml tin coconut milk, whisked smooth150g packet straight-to-wok medium noodles2 eggsTo serve 15g coriander, roughly chopped 50g salted peanuts, finely chopped½ green chilli, finely sliced (remove the pith and seeds first if you want less heat)Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan on a medium heat, then add the garlic, lemongrass, chilli, ginger, lime zest and shallots. Stir-fry for four to five minutes, until the shallots are soft and the mixture is aromatic and starting to brown lightly, then turn down the heat and add the ground coriander and salt. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, add the spinach and cook for two minutes, until it is just wilting
A pasta bake and a sumac salad: Sami Tamimi’s prep-ahead sharing recipes
My ideal way of entertaining is completely fuss-free, with everything prepared ahead of time so I can enjoy being with my guests rather than worrying about cooking. I like to put big, generous dishes in the middle of the table, such as this one-tray chicken, pasta and chickpea bake, alongside a fresh salad, so everyone can serve themselves and share a simple, delicious meal.This is a comforting and flavourful dish that brings together tender chicken, hearty chickpeas and perfectly cooked pasta in a rich, pungent sauce. It’s a simple yet satisfying meal that’s ideal for busy weeknights or casual family meals. Everything cooks together in the oven, and the flavours blend beautifully while keeping prep and washing-up to a minimum
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The surprising boom in blouge wine: ‘It’s for 5pm, in the sun’
Twenty years ago, a winery could do well selling one white and two reds, says Konrad Pixner, a northern Italian winemaker who set up his vineyard, Domaine de L’Accent, in Languedoc, France, in 2019. But today, importers and bars always ask: “Do you have something new?” So up in the hills, surrounded by deep gorges and limestone plateaus, Pixner is constantly experimenting.After a good harvest in 2023, Pixner walked into the shed he shares with other winemakers at 4am to find that his biggest vat of white wine, pressed from carignan blanc grapes, had overflowed during fermentation. He had run out of space, so he quickly “pumped the white juice into the tank where whole bunches of carignan noir were,” he says, and left them to ferment for 10 days together. In contrast to rosé, made from red grapes left for a short time with their skins on before being pressed, he created “blouge” – a light, fresh wine blended from white and red grapes that’s best served chilled
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