High-definition magnifying endoscopy with i-scan in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: a pilot study

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value and image quality of high-definition magnifying white light endoscopy (M-WLE) and high-definition magnifying endoscopy with i-scan (M-i-scan) for Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection.

Patients complaining of dyspepsia who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at the Endoscopy Unit of Qilu Hospital (Jinan, Shandong Province, China) from January to March, 2011 were prospectively recruited. The greater curvature of the stomach was carefully observed using both M-WLE and M-i-scan. The gastric mucosal classification and image quality scores were recorded. The relationship between gastric mucosal classification and final diagnosis of H.pylori infection was determined.

A total of 84 patients were recruited in this study. The accuracy and specificity of the combination of types 2-3 patterns predicting H.pylori infection were significantly higher for M-i-scan than those for M-WLE (accuracy: 94.0% vs 84.5%, P=0.046; and specificity: 93.5% vs 80.6%, P=0.032), while the sensitivity of the two modes was the same. The M-i-scan provided a better image quality for H.pylori infection than M-WLE (P<0.001).

The M-i-scan may be superior to M-WLE for the prediction of H.pylori infection, but its diagnostic sensitivity needs to be improved.