Our Response to an Analysis That Missed the Mark
In his recent article, after receiving increasing inquiries from fellow veterinarians, pathologist Dr. Eric Fish posed the question, "Can a Heat Scan Rule Out Cancer?" We're honored to have caught the attention of so many veterinarians, but we respectfully disagree with Dr. Fish's analysis.
The assertion that "a heat scan cannot rule out cancer" is inaccurate.
Regarding the critique of the disease prevalence used in our studies, we used real-world data more aligned with general practice settings (15-20% prevalence of malignant neoplasia). When we normalize the data by matching the prevalence in both studies, we find similar NPV and sensitivity numbers across both cytology and HT Vista (latest classifier), without the cost, complexity, and invasiveness of an FNA.
Over the past two years, we’ve processed more than 16,000 scans and significantly improved our algorithms. We are in the process of publishing an updated validation that shows improved metrics, now achieving 90% sensitivity and 98% NPV.
The data Dr. Fish referenced was obtained two years ago at the time of this writing. Unfortunately, he did not seek our input for updated data and this led to an incomplete and misleading critique.
Dr. Fish’s analysis misses the core proposition behind HT Vista.
Ideally, every mass would be diagnosed by histopathology, but the reality is different. Many masses go undiagnosed completely, often because pet owners decline due to cost and other factors.
HT Vista, as a cost-effective and non-invasive screening tool, is creating a new diagnostic category that fills this significant gap. Our customers charge about $50 per study, a more affordable option for pet owners. This results in more lumps and bumps receiving a preliminary screen, and an increased acceptance of FNA recommendations, rather than going undiagnosed.
Additionally, approximately 20% of FNAs result in non-diagnostic outcomes, a number often much higher in general practice. It’s a frustration to both veterinarian and pet owner, especially after spending $150-$300. Every HT Vista scan provides a result, aiding decision-making should an FNA result be inconclusive.
HT Vista helps veterinarians decide when to do further diagnostics or if “wait and see” is the appropriate recommendation. When combined with FNA analysis, it can achieve accuracy on par with the gold standard.
Our team, made up of, amongst others, several industry-recognized veterinarians, remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that every lump and bump that needs it gets a cytology or histology diagnosis. We believe our early results are impressive and indicate we're on the right track. We thank Dr. Fish for sparking this discussion, as it allows us to clarify our purpose, and we welcome the opportunity to get together and share more about our technology and its future direction.