[Diagnosis of gastric carcinoma by electronic endoscope]

The TV-Endoscope (by Toshiba Machida) provides excellent resolution with about 100,000 pixels and superior endoscopic findings to that of fiberscope, even though there still remain some improvements to be expected on its manipulability in comparison with the panendoscope. We can observe minute surface structure of gastric mucosa such as gastric pits. The endoscopic diagnosis in the new age of the electronic endoscope will reach to the stage of differential diagnosis not only based on the gross appearance of the lesions but also on the minute surface structure ranging from the gastric area to the gastric pits. Moreover, the application of the image processing or image analysis taking advantage of characteristics of electronic endoscope will develop the new stage of endoscopic diagnosis.