Endocytoscopy: technology and clinical application in the lower GI tract

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Endoscopy
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Endocytoscopy (EC) provides ultra-high-resolution images for virtual histology in diagnosing colorectal lesions.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) are emerging tools in this field.
• Accurate diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current applications of endocytoscopy in diagnosing colorectal tumors.
• To evaluate the benefits of integrating AI and CAD with endocytoscopy.
• To compare the diagnostic performance of endocytoscopy with magnified chromoendoscopy through meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of current endocytoscopy applications.
• Meta-analysis comparing diagnostic performance of endocytoscopy versus magnified chromoendoscopy.
• Assessment of AI and CAD integration in endocytoscopy for colorectal lesion diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Endocytoscopy achieves virtual histology, enabling detailed optical biopsy of colorectal lesions.
• The meta-analysis indicates endocytoscopy demonstrates higher diagnostic performance in assessing the depth of colorectal neoplasms.
• AI and CAD show promise in enhancing endocytoscopy's diagnostic capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Endocytoscopy is a valuable technology for diagnosing colorectal tumors, offering virtual histology.
• This systematic review and meta-analysis supports endocytoscopy's superior performance in depth assessment of colorectal neoplasms.
• The integration of AI and CAD holds potential for further advancing endocytoscopy in clinical practice.