Significance of each narrow-band imaging finding in diagnosing squamous mucosal high-grade neoplasia of the esophagus.
OBJECTIVE
Although narrow-band imaging (NBI) is used increasingly in clinical situations, the significance of each NBI finding has not been investigated. The primary endpoint of the present study was to identify the significant NBI findings to diagnose esophageal mucosal high-grade neoplasia.


METHODS
Between August 2007 and January 2009, we detected 59 new superficial esophageal lesions. The video images of NBI were recorded digitally. NBI findings such as brownish dots (dilated intra-epithelial papillary capillary loop [IPCL]), tortuous IPCL, elongated IPCL, caliber change in IPCL, variety in IPCL shapes, demarcation line, brownish epithelium, and protrusion or depression were evaluated using the video images. The association between each NBI finding and diagnosis of mucosal high-grade neoplasia, and intra- and interobserver agreement was evaluated.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, brownish epithelium, brownish dots, tortuous IPCL, variety in IPCL shapes and demarcation line were associated significantly with diagnosis of mucosal high-grade neoplasia. In multivariate analysis, brownish epithelium and brownish dots were confirmed to be independent factors. Odds ratios were 25.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-268) for brownish epithelium and 19.3 (95% CI: 1.8-207.7) for brownish dots. Intraobserver agreement was substantial for brownish epithelium and brownish dots. Interobserver agreement was moderate in brownish epithelium and brownish dots.


CONCLUSIONS
Brownish epithelium and brownish dots were confirmed to be significant and reproducible NBI findings in the diagnosis of squamous mucosal high-grade neoplasia of the esophagus. Initial assessment of esophageal lesions should be done based on these findings.
Ishihara
Ryu
R
Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, Japan. isihara-ry@mc.pref.osaka.jp
Inoue
Takuya
T
Uedo
Noriya
N
Yamamoto
Sachiko
S
Kawada
Natsuko
N
Tsujii
Yoshiki
Y
Kanzaki
Hiromitu
H
Hanafusa
Masao
M
Hanaoka
Noboru
N
Takeuchi
Yoji
Y
Higashino
Koji
K
Iishi
Hiroyasu
H
Tatsuta
Masaharu
M
Tomita
Yasuhiko
Y
Ishiguro
Shingo
S
D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014741:Video Recording