SURGEONS and scientists in Southampton have pioneered a test that could revolutionise diagnosis of early-stage endometriosis which affects millions of women in the country.

Ying Cheong, a consultant gynaecologist and co-founder of the Complete Fertility Centre in Southampton, and Dr Tracey Newman, an academic at the University of Southampton, have found a way to pinpoint diseased cells within the body without having to simply rely on a surgeon’s judgement.

Early results in the laboratory showed that, while early endometriosis cannot be seen by the naked eye during surgery to remove it, small particles labelled with fluorescent markers can tell the surgeon which tissue is affected.

Miss Cheong is also one of three Southampton gynaecologists who have been chosen to perform two advanced hysterectomy procedures live from the Princess Anne Hospital via satellite to hundreds of international colleagues attending the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy conference in London.

She will be joined by fellow consultant gynaecologists Adam Moors and Dr Sameer Umranikar to showcase some of the latest advances in the field which are used regularly by experts at Southampton General Hospital.