Viewing upper gastrointestinal cancers in a new light

Date:
January 5, 2021
Source:
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Summary:
Researchers report the use of Linked Color Imaging, an innovative
modality that specifically combines selected wavelengths of
light for illumination in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This
method, by enhancing the subtle variations in red and white hues
that indicate mucosal transformation, greatly improves the early
detection of upper gastrointestinal tract neoplasms as compared
with conventional white light illumination.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) describe an endoscopic modality for detecting upper gastrointestinal tract neoplasms
by Linked Color Imaging that innovatively mixes light of different
wavelengths to better depict mucosal changes

========================================================================== Recently there have been significant advances on several fronts in
the ongoing war against cancer of the alimentary tract. Now, Japanese researchers report the development of another weapon: Linked Color
Imaging (LCI), a novel endoscopic technique that improves detection of
cancer by viewing the upper digestive tract mucosa under illumination
that combines specific wavelengths of light to intensify subtle color variations indicative of neoplastic change.

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is routinely performed to detect
tumorous changes or neoplasia in the pharynx, esophagus, and stomach
and is conventionally done under White Light Imaging (WLI). Using the innovative LASEREO system developed by the Fujifilm Corporation, LCI
technology balances white light with narrow-band short wavelength light
in a specific ratio that deepens and enhances the contrast of red and
white hues, thus intensifying nuances of mucosal transformation.

Though earlier studies have described the role of LCI in histological
diagnosis of upper GI tract tumors, the research team felt the need for
a large-scale, broad-based comparative study to assess its efficacy in
neoplasm detection.

"Our research was conducted in 19 hospitals across Japan involving 1502 patients with known past or current gastrointestinal cancer, representing
a high-risk population" explains Dr Shoko Ono, lead author. "Patients
underwent upper GI endoscopy under both WLI and LCI protocols wherein they
were grouped according to which modality was performed first. Ingeniously,
our study design ensured diagnostic accuracy; not only did each modality
serve as a backup and crosscheck on the other, this was further followed
by histopathological confirmation." Dr Kenro Kawada, co-lead author,
describes the results. "With LCI, lesions were detected in 8% of the
patients but the detection rate was only 4.8% with WLI.

Conversely, with WLI 3.5% of patients had a lesion overlooked but this
rate was only 0.67% with LCI. This shows a clear superiority of LCI
over conventionally illuminated endoscopic screening for discerning
mucosal changes related to upper GIT neoplasia as it detected
neoplasia 1.67 times more frequently." Professor Mototsugu Kato,
senior and corresponding author, explains the implications of their
research. "Combined with previous studies that show the efficacy of
LCI in detecting large intestinal neoplasia, our findings make a strong
case for wider adoption of this modality in surveillance of the entire endoscopically accessible digestive tract. However, we need further
research to confirm its efficacy in the hands of general clinicians for
upper GI screening of an average population."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Tokyo_Medical_and_Dental_University. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Shoko Ono, Kenro Kawada, Osamu Dohi, Shinji Kitamura, Tomoyuki
Koike,
Shinichiro Hori, Hiromitsu Kanzaki, Takahisa Murao, Nobuaki Yagi,
Fumisato Sasaki, Keiichi Hashiguchi, Shiro Oka, Kazuhiro Katada,
Ryo Shimoda, Kazuhiro Mizukami, Mitsuhiko Suehiro, Toshihisa
Takeuchi, Shinichi Katsuki, Momoko Tsuda, Yuji Naito, Tatsuyuki
Kawano, Ken Haruma, Hideki Ishikawa, Keita Mori, Mototsugu Kato,
MD. Linked Color Imaging Focused on Neoplasm Detection in the
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2020;
DOI: 10.7326/M19-2561 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210105095626.htm

--- up 3 weeks, 7 hours, 58 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)