title: Usefulness of narrow-band imaging endoscopy for diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A newly developed endoscope lighting system called a narrow-band imaging system emphasizes certain histological features such as capillary and crypt pattern. The usefulness of NBI for the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus (BE) was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with previously diagnosed BE were enrolled in this study. Magnifying endoscopy was performed by an experienced endoscopist, using both a conventional system and an NBI system. All images were recorded by video and by a digital still image filing system. Differences in images were evaluated by another experienced endoscopist. The quality of images for the visualization of the esophagogastric junction, capillary vessels, and columnar-lined esophagus (CLE) was judged as: optimal (score of 4), diagnostic (3), suboptimal (2), or nondiagnostic (1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In contrast to the low rate of visualization of the esophagogastric junction by conventional endoscopy, visualization of this area endoscopy was better by NBI. Net-like blood vessels were more clearly seen on images obtained by NBI endoscopy. Visualization of the CLE was better by NBI endoscopy than by conventional endoscopy. In contrast to conventional endoscopy, NBI endoscopy captured the optimal view of Barrett's epithelium. The relationship between the endoscopic and histopathologic diagnoses was more accurate by NBI endoscopy than by conventional endoscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Magnifying endoscopy by NBI is more useful than conventional magnifying endoscopy for the diagnosis of BE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, South 1, West 16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamamoto
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nosho
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arimura
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kohzoh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020699:Gastroscopes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014741:Video Recording