The best colonoscopy technique for early neoplasm detection in ulcerative colitis patients is still debated. In a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers compare white-light colonoscopy and narrow-band imaging colonoscopy surveillance.
Here are four things to know about the study.
1. The study included 159 patients. The researchers performed two colonoscopies on each patient within three weeks to three months. For white-light colonoscopy, stepwise random biopsy specimens, segmental random biopsies and targeted biopsy specimens were taken. For NBI colonoscopy, segmental and targeted biopsies were taken.
2. In 22.6 percent of patients, 54 lesions with intraepithelial neoplasia (IN) were found. In white-light colonoscopy, 11 IN were found in stepwise biopsy, 4 in segmental biopsy and 15 in targeted biopsy.
3. In NBI colonoscopy, 7 IN were found in segmental biopsy and 24 in targeted biopsy.
4. The researchers concluded the highest sensitivity could be achieved by combining white-light and NBI colonoscopy techniques by switching between modes.