Overview of Endoscopic Features of Gastrointestinal Pathology (Colon)

Abstract

Advances in endoscopic imaging technologies and techniques in recent decades have revolutionized the detection, diagnosis, and therapy of gastrointestinal pathology. New-generation endoscope systems produce high-definition images with over a million pixels that are three times higher in resolution than standard-definition images produced by older-generation endoscope systems. In addition, endoscopic image contrast can be enhanced with stains, and electronic imaging technologies such as narrow-band imaging (NBI, Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). These technologies are known collectively as “image-enhanced endoscopy,” which are known to improve the detection and facilitate real-time optical diagnosis or characterization of early gastrointestinal neoplasia. Optical diagnosis therefore improves tissue sampling for subsequent histologic evaluation and also enables real-time selection of appropriate endoscopic therapy for early gastrointestinal neoplasia while and avoiding unnecessary surgery. In this chapter, we present an overview of endoscopic features of colorectal pathology.