Linked color imaging can help gastric Helicobacter pylori infection diagnosis during endoscopy

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a standard tool for detection of mucosal and submucosal lesions. However, identification of Helicobacter pylori (H. P) infection using EGD alone is limited in accuracy. Linked color imaging (LCI) is a novel tool to capture real-time image with sufficient contrast to observe mucosal microstructure.

This study aims to evaluate the applicability of LCI in the identification of H. pylori infection. Consecutive 122 patients scheduled for EGD were included. They were examined with LCI and magnifying endoscopy. The classification of H. pylori was based on pathology results of biopsy and rapid urease test or urea breath test.

We compared the results based on LCI or magnifying endoscopy to reference classification. Of 122 patients, 36 had H. pylori infection (29.51%). The level of accuracy of diagnosis of H. pylori infections by LCI, magnifying endoscopy, and both LCI and magnifying endoscopy was 78.38%, 81.98%, and 78.38%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of each group were 70.97%, 81.25%, and 80.65% and 82.5%, 83.87%, and 76.25%, respectively. The positive predictive values were 59.46%, 64.10%, and 57.78%, respectively, and the negative predictive values were 87.84%, 91.67%, and 92.42%, respectively.

LCI could be playing a valuable initial screen tool for real-time diagnosis of H. pylori infections. It has a high accuracy of diagnosis of H. pylori infections. Therefore, in patients suspected to have H. pylori infections using LCI, the infections need to be carefully diagnosed using appropriate methods because, as per the consensus, they should be eradicated as soon as possible before precancerous lesions develop.