Innovations

Introduction

Since the introduction of flexible endoscopy over 40 years ago, numerous technical achievements have contributed to further development in diagnostic as well as therapeutic applications. This expansion continues as medical centers across the world are now devoting substantial resources to research and technical innovation in endoscopy. The present review summarizes five pertinent papers published in the past year concerning novel technologies in endoscopy; three regard advances in diagnosis [1] [2] [3] and two consider new therapeutic techniques [4] [5].

References

• 1 Eliakim R, Fireman Z, Gralnek I M. et al . Evaluation of the PillCam colon capsule in the detection of colonic pathology: results of the first multicentre, prospective, comparative study.  Endoscopy. 2006;  38 963-970
• 2 Rex D K, Helbig C C. High yields of small and flat adenomas with high-definition colonoscopes using either white light or narrow band imaging.  Gastroenterology. 2007;  133 42-47
• 3 Chen Y K, Pleskow D K. SpyGlass single-operator peroral cholangiopancreatoscopy system for the diagnosis and therapy of bile-duct disorders: a clinical feasibility study.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;  65 832-841
• 4 Sharma V K, Wang K K, Overholt B F. et al . Balloon-based, circumferential, endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus: 1-year follow-up of 100 patients.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;  65 185-195
• 5 Fujishiro M, Yahagi N, Kakushima N. et al . Outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal epithelial neoplasms in 200 consecutive cases.  Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;  5 678-683
• 6 Schoofs N, Devière J, Van Gossum A. PillCam colon capsule endoscopy compared with colonoscopy for colorectal tumor diagnosis: a prospective pilot study.  Endoscopy. 2006;  38 971-977
• 7 Gono K, Yamazaki K, Doguchi N. et al . Endoscopic observation of tissue by narrow-band illumination.  Opt Rev. 2003;  57 845-850
• 8 Su M Y, Hsu C M, Ho Y P. et al . Comparative study of conventional colonoscopy, chromoendoscopy, and narrow-band imaging systems in differential diagnosis of neoplastic and nonneoplastic colonic polyps.  Am J Gastroenterol. 2006;  101 2711-2716
• 9 Chen S, Rex D K. Endoscopist can be more powerful than age and male gender in predicting adenoma detection at colonoscopy.  Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;  102 856-861
• 10 Fukuda Y, Tsuyuguchi T, Sakai Y. et al . Diagnostic utility of peroral cholangiopancreatoscopy with and without biopsy in patients with indeterminate pancreatobiliary pathology.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2005;  62 374-382
• 11 Chen Y K. Preclinical characterization of the SpyGlass peroral cholangiopancreatoscopy system for direct access, visualization, and biopsy.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;  65 303-311
• 12 Van Laethem J L, Cremer M, Peny M O. et al . Eradication of Barrett’s mucosa with argon plasma coagulation and acid suppression: immediate and mid term results.  Gut. 1998;  43 747-751
• 13 Dulai G S, Jensen D M, Cortina G. et al . Randomized trial of argon plasma coagulation vs multipolar electrocoagulation for ablation of Barrett’s esophagus.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2005;  61 232-240
• 14 Ono H, Kondo H, Gotoda T. et al . Endoscopic mucosal resection for treatment of early gastric cancer.  Gut. 2001;  48 225-229
• 15 Das H. Endoscopic submucosal dissection-cure in one piece.  Endoscopy. 2006;  38 1044-1046
• 16 Saito Y, Uraoka T, Matsuda T. et al . Endoscopic treatment of large superficial colorectal tumors: a case series of 200 endoscopic submucosal dissections.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;  (Epub ahead of print)
• 17 Tanaka S, Oka S, Kaneko I. et al . Endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal neoplasia: possibility of standardization.  Gastrointest Endosc. 2007;  66 100-107