Advances in optical gastrointestinal endoscopy: a technical review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Medical Optics
• Development and application of advanced optical imaging technologies for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer diagnosis.

Background:

• Optical endoscopy is crucial for diagnosing and treating GI malignancies, which often develop from precancerous lesions.
• Improving the detection and diagnosis of early-stage GI cancers and precancerous lesions is vital for better patient outcomes.
• Significant advancements in optical imaging modalities have been made to enhance endoscopic diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a technical review of current and emerging optical endoscopic imaging technologies for GI cancer screening and surveillance.
• To summarize the principles, performance, and clinical applicability of these novel optical techniques.
• To discuss the integration of molecular probes and artificial intelligence (AI) for improved GI lesion diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of light-tissue interaction principles relevant to optical imaging.
• Analysis of imaging performance across macroscopic and microscopic scales.
• Evaluation of clinical validation, effectiveness, molecular probes, and AI-based decision support systems.

Main Results:

• A variety of novel optical techniques complement standard white light endoscopy, probing light-tissue interactions at multiple scales.
• Many new optical modalities have been successfully translated into routine clinical practice.
• Molecular probes and AI algorithms show promise for enhancing diagnostic specificity and real-time decision support.

Conclusions:

• Optical endoscopic imaging technologies have significantly evolved, offering improved capabilities for GI cancer detection.
• The integration of advanced imaging, molecular probes, and AI is transforming endoscopic diagnosis and surveillance.
• Future technological developments hold substantial potential to further revolutionize endoscopic GI cancer detection and diagnosis.