Prospective, controlled tandem endoscopy study of narrow band imaging for dysplasia detection in Barrett's Esophagus.
OBJECTIVE
High-resolution endoscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI) enhances the visualization of mucosal glandular and vascular structures. This study assessed whether narrow band targeted biopsies could detect advanced dysplasia using fewer biopsy samples compared with standard resolution endoscopy.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective, blinded, tandem endoscopy study in a tertiary care center with 65 patients with Barrett's esophagus undergoing evaluation for previously detected dysplasia. Standard resolution endoscopy was used first to detect visible lesions. Narrow band endoscopy was then used by another gastroenterologist to detect and biopsy areas suspicious for dysplasia. The lesions initially detected by standard resolution endoscopy were then disclosed and biopsied, after biopsy of the lesions targeted with NBI. Finally, random 4-quadrant biopsies were taken throughout the segment of Barrett's mucosa.


RESULTS
Higher grades of dysplasia were found by NBI in 12 patients (18%), compared with no cases (0%) in whom standard resolution white light endoscopy with random biopsy detected a higher grade of histology (P < .001). Correspondingly, narrow band directed biopsies detected dysplasia in more patients (n = 37; 57%) compared with biopsies taken using standard resolution endoscopy (n = 28; 43%). In addition, more biopsies were taken using standard resolution endoscopy with random biopsy compared with narrow band targeted biopsies (mean 8.5 versus 4.7; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients evaluated for Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia, NBI detected significantly more patients with dysplasia and higher grades of dysplasia with fewer biopsy samples compared with standard resolution endoscopy.
Wolfsen
Herbert C
HC
Division of Gastroenterology, Laboratory Medicine and Biostatistics Unit, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
Crook
Julia E
JE
Krishna
Murli
M
Achem
Sami R
SR
Devault
Kenneth R
KR
Bouras
Ernest P
EP
Loeb
David S
DS
Stark
Mark E
ME
Woodward
Timothy A
TA
Hemminger
Lois L
LL
Cayer
Frances K
FK
Wallace
Michael B
MB
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index