THE RELEVANCE OF THE ENDOCYTOSCOPY IN MODERN ENDOSCOPY

Early detection of gastric cancer remains a critical objective in modern gastrointestinal endoscopy, as diagnosis at an early stage significantly improves therapeutic outcomes and patient survival. Endoscopic examination represents the cornerstone of gastric cancer diagnosis and incorporates both conventional and advanced imaging techniques to enhance lesion detection and characterization. White light endoscopy (WLE) is the primary and most widely used diagnostic modality; however, its sensitivity for identifying early neoplastic changes is limited. Advanced techniques such as chromoendoscopy and narrow-band imaging (NBI) improve mucosal visualization by enhancing surface patterns and microvascular architecture, thereby increasing the detection rate of suspicious lesions. Endocytoscopy, a high-magnification endoscopic technique, enables real-time in vivo visualization of cellular and subcellular structures, allowing optical biopsy and more accurate differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic gastric lesions. The aim of this article is to compare the diagnostic performance of WLE, chromoendoscopy/NBI, and endocytoscopy in the detection of early gastric cancer, and to evaluate the clinical value of endocytoscopy as an adjunctive tool in modern endoscopic practice. The integration of endocytoscopy into routine diagnostic algorithms may improve diagnostic accuracy and contribute to more precise and timely management of patients with early gastric cancer.