Narrow Band Imaging Yields Clear Images of Subepithelial Microvessels in Large Airways in Combination With High Magnification Bronchovideoscopy

Abstract

A narrow band imaging (NBI) is reported to be useful for observation of the mucosal lesions. We examined the usefulness of NBI for observation of bronchial mucosa by high magnification bronchovideoscopy. The NBI system uses 2 narrow band filters, NBI-B (390 to 445 nm) and NBI-G (530 to 550 nm). The side viewing high magnification bronchovideoscope provides information on bronchial mucosa with a maximum magnification of 110 times. Between April 2004 and July 2005, 11 patients without abnormality in large airways were enrolled into this study. Patients underwent high magnification bronchovideoscopy with the conventional imaging and the NBI. The NBI images and the conventional images were compared in regard with the following 3 parameters: vessel area ratio, vessel length ratio, and vessel area to length ratio. These parameters of the NBI-B and the NBI-G were compared. The subepithelial microvessels were more clearly visualized by NBI than by conventional imaging. Vessel area ratio and vessel length ratio were significantly higher in the NBI than in the conventional images (both P