title: High definition endoscopy and "narrow band imaging" in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common condition in the western world but less than half of patients present endoscopic abnormalities, making a standard procedure unsuitable for diagnosis. High definition endoscopy coupled with narrow band imaging has shown potential for differentiation of lesions and possible biopsy, allowing early diagnosis and treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review describes the principles of biotic and their influence in obtaining images with better definition of the vessels in the mucosa, through the narrow band imaging. Selected papers using it in patients with reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus are analyzed in several ways, highlighting the findings and limitations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The meaning of the narrow band imaging in the endoscopic diagnosis of reflux disease will be defined by large scale studies, with different categories of patients, including assessment of symptoms and response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frederico Salvador
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Assirati
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Lyoiti
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Anuar
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dib
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Henrique Souza
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fontes
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clinicas, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Navarro-Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D062048:Narrow Band Imaging