Endoscopic imaging in Barrett's esophagus.
Barrett's esophagus is the only known precursor that predisposes patients to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The current recommended surveillance method is targeted biopsies of any abnormalities followed by random four-quadrant biopsies every 2 cm using standard white light endoscopy. Compliance with this and sampling error are two of the biggest problems. Several novel imaging technologies have been developed to aid the diagnosis of early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus. There are emerging data that some of these new modalities can increase the yield of detecting dysplasia. This review will discuss some of the present available techniques and technologies including chromoendoscopy, narrow-band imaging, autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, confocal endomicroscopy and endocytoscopy. Based on the current evidence, these imaging modalities appear to be promising as adjunctive tools to white light endoscopy. A few of them, nevertheless, remain experimental due to expense, lack of expertise, generalizability as well as reproducibility of results.
University of Adelaide, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Gastroenterology and Surgery, Haydown Road, Elizabeth Vale, 5112 Australia.
Rajvinder
R
Singh
Sze Pheh
SP
Yeap
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
Barrett’s esophagus; acetic acid; autofluorescence imaging; chromoendoscopy; confocal endomicroscopy; endocystoscopy; indigo carmine; methylene blue; narrow-band imaging; optical coherence tomography