New endoscopic and cytologic tools for cancer surveillance in the digestive tract

Cancer surveillance is an increasing part of everyday practice in gastrointestinal Endoscopy due to the identification of high-risk groups from genetic and biomarker testing, genealogic and epidemiologic studies, and the increasing number of cancer survivors. An efficient surveillance program requires a cost-effective means for image-guided cancer detection and biopsy. A laser-based tethered-capsule endoscope with enhanced spectral imaging is introduced for unsedated surveillance of the lower esophagus. An ultrathin version of this same endoscope technology provides a 1.2-mm guidewire with imaging capability and cannula-style tools are proposed for image-guided biopsy. Advanced three-dimensional cell visualization techniques are described for increasing the sensitivity of early cancer diagnosis from hematoxylin-stained cells sampled from the pancreatic and biliary ducts.