Narrow Band Imaging Evaluation Research Articles

Narrow band imaging (NBI) during medical thoracoscopy: first impressions

BackgroundThis is the first ever evaluation of narrow band imaging (NBI), an innovative endoscopic imaging procedure, for the visualisation of pleural processes.MethodsThe pleural cavity was examined in 26 patients with pleural effusions using both white light and narrow band imaging during thoracoscopy under local anaesthesia.ResultsIn the great majority of the patients narrow band imaging depicted the blood vessels more clearly than white light, but failed to reveal any differences in number, shape or size. Only in a single case with pleura thickened by chronic inflammation and metastatic spread of lung cancer did narrow band imaging show vessels that were not detectable under white light.ConclusionIt is not yet possible to assess to what extent the evidence provided by NBI is superior to that achieved with white light. Further studies are required, particularly in the early stages of pleural processes.

The Detection of Flat and Depressed Colorectal Lesions: Which Endoscopic Imaging Approach?

The secondary prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) assumes that early detection and resection of precursor lesions disrupts the adenoma– carcinoma sequence and halts progression to invasive neoplastic disease. The adenoma– carcinoma sequence has until now formed the rationale for endoscopic therapies directed at reducing the incidence of CRC. The fact that snare polypectomy of exophytic lesions fails to prevent progression to carcinoma in up to 24% of cases has prompted reevaluation of the prevalence and clinicopathologic significance of flat and depressed colorectal lesions in Western population cohorts. Such lesions, although well-described in the Japanese literature, have only recently been reported in Western population cohorts. Debate has continued regarding their prevalence, anatomic localization, histopathologic characteristics, and proposed imaging modality of choice. Within this perspective, we summarize the key data pertinent to recently described endoscopic diagnostic modalities and detail their clinical applicability both for the detection of flat neoplastic lesions occurring in the “sporadic” patient cohort, familial polyposis syndromes, and chronic ulcerative colitis.