NOVEL ENDOSCOPIC OPTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE DETECTION OF EARLY GASTROINTESTINAL NEOPLASIA

Abstract

Summary. The prognosis of gastrointestinal neoplasia is dependent on the stage of the disease at the time of detection. Early detection of neoplasia is a prerequsite for patients, better prognosis and longer survival. For today’s endoscopist, imaging of the gastrointestinal tract is best done using CCD-equipped white-light videoendoscopy. In recent years, several new techniques have been introduced to improve the detection of early lesions. The most important improvement has been the introduction of high-resolution/high-definition/magnification endoscopy into daily clinical practice. Important adjuncts to white-light videoendocopy are NBI, chromoendoscopy and virtual chromoendoscopy serving as »red-flag« techniques and potentially broad field functional imaging techniques such as autofluorescence endoscopy. Furthermore, in-vivo histopathology during endoscopy has become possible with endocytoscopy and confocal endomicroscopy. The value of these new techniques will have to be proven in randomised cross-over trials.