[Endoscopic surveillance of colon-rectum in the narrow band imaging era]

Colonoscopic surveillance is an established method of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening that reduces death rates, but has an adenoma miss rate of 10-20%. Narrow band imaging (NBI), a novel endoscopic technology, highlights superficial mucosal capillaries and improves contrast for small adenomas. This study evaluated the role of NBI in the improving colon adenoma detection.

White light colonoscope was compared with NBI for adenoma detection during colonoscopy. 120 patients presenting for diagnostic colonoscopy were randomly assigned to undergo colonoscopy using either conventional white light or NBI colonscope during instrument withdrawal. The outcome parameter was the difference in the adenoma detection rate between the two techniques. All polyps detected were removed for histopathological analysis.

Adenomas were detected more frequently in the NBI group (51) than in the control group (49); however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.128). The extubation time was significatively longer in the NBI group (p = 0.003).

In our experience, the NBI did not increased the adenomas detection rate compared to white light by an endoscopist with a known high detection rate using white light.