Does autofluorescence imaging videoendoscopy system improve the colonoscopic polyp detection rate?--a pilot study

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for the detection of colorectal polyps; however, polyps can be missed with conventional white light (WL) colonoscopy. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate whether a newly developed autofluorescence imaging (AFI) system can detect more colorectal polyps than WL.

A modified back-to-back colonoscopy using AFI and WL was conducted for 167 patients in the right-sided colon including cecum, ascending and transverse colon by a single experienced colonoscopist. The patient was randomized to undergo the first colonoscopy with either AFI or WL (group A: AFI-WL, group B: WL-AFI). The time needed for both insertion and examination for withdrawal and all lesions detected in the right-sided colon were recorded.

Eighty-three patients were randomized to group A and 84 to group B. The total number of polyps detected by AFI and WL colonoscopy was 100 and 73, respectively. The miss rate for all polyps with AFI (30%) was significantly less than that with WL (49%) (P= 0.01).

AFI detects more polyps in the right-sided colon compared to WL colonoscopy.