NOVEL AUTOFLUORESCENCE VIDEOENDOSCOPY IMAGING SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSIS OF CANCERS IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT

An autofluorescence (AF) endoscopy system produces real‐time pseudocolor images from computation of detecting natural tissue fluorescence from endogenous fluorophores that is emitted by excitation light. The system could specify lesions including malignancies by difference in tissue fluorescence properties and reveal early stage neoplasia not detectable by conventional white light (WL) endoscopy. Image quality of the prior autofluorescence imaging systems including fiber‐optic endoscope was not feasible for general clinical use. The authors investigated the clinical utility of the novel videoendoscopy system using a combination of autofluorescence and reflection imaging (AFI) in diagnosis of cancers in the digestive tract. AFI represented early stage cancers in the digestive tract as purple or magenta areas in a green background. The undifferentiated type early gastric cancers in the fundic mucosa showed a unique pattern; green areas in a purple background. Ulcerations or inflammation caused over‐diagnosis in the AF observation. AFI could reveal flat or isochromatic extensions that were not evident in the WL images. Because the current system of AFI has limitations on resolution and accuracy comparing with chromoendoscopy, it has much to be improved for a good adjunct to standard WL videoendoscopy for diagnosing of early stage digestive tract cancers.

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