title: Endocytoscopic observation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The endocytoscopy system (ECS), adapted for clinical use in 2003, is an ultra-high-power magnifying endoscope that allows observations at the cell level. ECS is based on the technology of light-contact microscopy. The most evident use of ECS is for real-time, high-resolution diagnosis of nuclear abnormalities, mainly in patients with esophageal cancer. Up to now, three different types of ECS have been available. This diagnostic tool makes it possible to omit histological examination of biopsy samples in approximately 84% of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as evidence for both an increase of cell density and nuclear abnormalities is considered to be convincing proof that a lesion is malignant. Here we describe the features of ECS and the background that led to its development, and review the published literature pertaining to the observation of esophageal neoplasms using ECS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital, Koriyama, Japan. kuma7@ohta-hp.or.jp
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Kenro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawada
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Momma
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Odajima
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Kaiyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takubo
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D020701:Esophagoscopes; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008751:Methylene Blue; D008853:Microscopy
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue