Enteroscopy: Advances in diagnostic imaging

Routine endoscopic imaging of the small bowel is performed with videoendoscopic white light technology. However, currently there are many new methods that improve our visual acuity when evaluating the small bowel mucosa. These methods are collectively called "advanced endoscopic imaging". These imaging methods include high-definition white light endoscopy, standard and dye-less or "virtual" chromoendoscopy, magnification endoscopy and confocal laser endomicroscopy. Regardless of the method used to image the small bowel the endosocopist needs to pay attention to detail and focus on three essential aspects: a) the shape of the lesion, b) the superficial mucosal detail (i.e. "pit pattern") and c) the submucosal vascular pattern. This review describes advances in the endoscopic imaging methods to study the small bowel.