What’s New?
Previously, physicians, radiologists, surgeons, and endoscopists have been faced with the challenge of clearly visualizing and detecting mucosal surface aberration that is characteristic of patients who test positive for various gastrointestinal tract infections, including atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer, ampullary tumors, colorectal cancers, gastric adenomas, and other types of conditions. However, the challenges are about to end with the discovery of Narrow Band Imaging (NMI) and Magnifying Endoscopy (ME) technologies that improves the detection and diagnostic precision of neoplastic lacerations that usually affect the head, neck region, and the gastrointestinal tract of patients.
According to Muto et al, the discovery and advancement of NMI and ME technologies have made it possible to “…observe microscopic structures, such as microvessels, tissue structure, cellular nuclei, and even macromolecules” (1333).
Such enhanced visualization and detection of potentially malignant tumors and early neoplastic lacerations, according to the authors, will allow improved targeting of biopsy and effective treatment procedures to be commenced, thereby facilitating optimal quality of life in addition to reducing the number of deaths associated with these health conditions. NMI improves the capillary images, while ME employs both standard video endoscopy and adaptable image intensification techniques to improve visualization.
The Old Way
The old procedure commonly used by specialists to detect infections of the gastrointestinal tract entailed either the use of conventional white light to observe the affected area or the employment of dye-based image enhanced endoscopy. These procedures, however, were largely incapable of assessing potentially malignant tumors and were also incapable of precisely detecting early neoplastic lesions. As such, physicians were largely incapable of arriving at an accurate diagnosis, and surgeons often operated on patients using deficient information (Muto et al 1336). The conventional white light, in particular, could not adequately illuminate the affected area to allow specialists to make the correct diagnosis. However, “…NBI system uses two narrowband illuminations of 415 nm and 540 nm by NBI filter…Under NBI observation, the broadband white light derived from the xenon lamp splits into two bands and illuminates the surface of the mucosa” (Muto et al 1333)
The Way Forward
There exists compelling evidence that ailments associated with the gastrointestinal tract affects a large proportion of the population, and are responsible for a number of deaths occurring in our health facilities. The discovery of these technologies promises a bright future for patients suffering from these conditions since accurate diagnosis can now be made and the appropriate treatment regimen commenced to contain the condition.
Indeed NBI diagnosis has been recognized as an important method that could be used to objectively and accurately discriminate neoplastic lesions from non-neoplastic ones, thereby proving effective in the detection and management of the various forms of cancers that affect the gastrointestinal tract (Muto et al 1337). NBI combined with ME is expected to offer the optimal performance necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. As such, it is expected that these technologies will find wide acceptance and usage among health professionals since they provide the capability for improving the survival and quality of life of patients suffering from a wide array of medical conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
Source of Article
The article “Improving Visualization Techniques by Narrow Band Imaging and Magnification Endoscopy” was retrieved from Academic Source Premier Database contained in the EbscoHost Databases. An attachment of the article has been provided for review.
Works Cited
Muto, M., Horimatsu, T., Ezoe, Y., Morita, S., & Miyamoto, S. Improving Visualization Techniques by Narrow Band Imaging and Magnification Endoscopy. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 24.8 (2009): 1333-1346.