染色内镜和放大内镜诊治大肠侧向发育型肿瘤

目的大肠侧向发育型肿瘤(LST)与大肠癌关系密切,其诊治不同于一般的隆起样肿瘤,文章总结LST内镜诊断与治疗的经验,以引起临床上对这个特殊类型肿瘤的重视。方法内镜检查发现肠道黏膜发红或粗糙、血管网不清或消失等病变,行靛胭脂染色后放大内镜观察其腺管开口类型。结果18个月中共发现34例LST 35个病变。其中黏膜内癌4例,锯齿状肿瘤2例。35个病变内镜分型颗粒均一型15个,结节混合型18个,假凹陷型2个。病变最大为68 mm×85 mm;11～20mm 8个,21～30 mm 13个,30 mm以上14个。大肠黏膜腺管开口类型ⅢL型10个,其中8个为管状绒毛状腺瘤;Ⅳ型22个,其中16个为绒毛状腺瘤,1个黏膜内癌;ⅤA型3个,均为黏膜内癌。35个病变全部即时或择期进行内镜下切除治疗,发生出血和局限性腹膜炎各1例。结论应用黏膜染色技术和放大内镜有助于LST的诊断。LST的腺管开口大多数表现为Ⅳ型或ⅢL型,ⅢL型腺管开口多为管状腺瘤,Ⅳ型腺管开口多为绒毛状腺瘤,一旦出现Ⅴ型腺管开口则表明已经有癌变发生。     

放大内镜对早期大肠癌及其癌前病变的诊断价值

目的研究早期大肠癌及其癌前病变的放大内镜下特点及其与浸润深度的关系。方法应用电子放大内镜加靛胭脂染色观察了108例患者共129个大肠隆起性病变。结果129个病变中经病理诊断为肿瘤性病变(腺瘤及癌)的有106个。其腺管开口呈Ⅱ型者10个、ⅢL型者73个、Ⅲs型者1个、Ⅳ型者7个、V型者15个，没有Ⅴ型单独存在者。10个腺管开口Ⅱ型者病变病理多为轻度异型，无重度异型。15个出现Ⅴ型结构的病变中，10例癌变，5例病理为重度异型。10个癌变病变中均出现了Ⅴ型结构，7个黏膜内癌中6个呈ⅤA型，1个ⅤN型；2个黏膜下层癌均呈ⅤN型；一个进展期癌呈ⅤN型。研究中观察到10个侧向发育型肿瘤(LST)，放大内镜下腺管开口呈ⅢL型、Ⅳ型或Ⅴ型，其中1例癌变。结论放大内镜与实体显微镜观察息肉腺管开口形态基本一致。通过腺管开口观察可以很好的区分肿瘤性病变与非肿瘤性病变，其对肿瘤性病变的诊断具有重要的应用价值。     

大肠侧向发育型肿瘤内镜下的诊断与治疗

目的探讨大肠侧向发育型肿瘤（LST）临床病理特征及内镜下黏膜切除术的有效性、安全性。方法经普通内镜检查发现LST 119例,染色后观察病灶大小及部位并进行形态分型,再结合放大内镜确定腺管开口类型。有治疗适应证者行内镜下黏膜切除术,切除病灶黏膜送病理检查。结果 28个月中共发现119例LST 124个病变。内镜下分型：颗粒均一型44个,结节混合型48个,平坦隆起型23个,假凹陷型9个。病变直径：10～20 mm 65个,21～30 mm 23个,31 mm以上36个,最大病变110 mm×100 mm。病变部位：直肠50个,乙状结肠25个,降结肠11个,横结肠10个,升结肠＋盲肠28个。黏膜腺管开口类型：Ⅲ型30个,其中17个为管状绒毛状腺瘤,12个为管状腺瘤;Ⅳ型56个,其中30个为绒毛状腺瘤,4个为黏膜内癌;Ⅴ型5个,其中2个为黏膜内癌,2个累及黏膜下层下1/3以下;Ⅱ型7个,其中5个为炎性增生性息肉,2个为锯齿状腺瘤（腺瘤性增生性息肉）：其余为ⅢL＋V型,其中23个为管状绒毛状腺瘤。符合适应证95例98个病变择期进行内镜下黏膜切除治疗,发生出血11例,均在操作过程中,无肠穿孔发生。结论大肠LST内镜形态具有一定特殊性,内镜下黏膜切除术是治疗在大肠的有效而安全的方法,可达到根治目的 。     

碘染色、窄带成像及超声内镜在早期食管鳞癌及其癌前病变内镜黏膜下剥离术前评估价值

[目的]研究碘染色、窄带成像(NBI)内镜及超声内镜(EUS)在早期食管鳞癌及癌前病变内镜黏膜下剥离术(ESD)前评估的价值。[方法]收集行ESD治疗的早期食管鳞癌及其癌前病变患者的临床病理资料,以术后病检结果作为病变诊断金标准,比较碘染色、NBI内镜对早期食管癌及癌前病变的诊断率及病变范围判断有无差异;比较放大内镜结合NBI内镜技术(ME-NBI)、EUS对病灶浸润深度判断的准确性。[结果]NBI内镜对早期食管鳞癌的诊断率与碘染色内镜相同,对其癌前病变诊断率低于碘染色内镜,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);本研究中NBI内镜和碘染色内镜下早期食管鳞癌及其癌前病变范围分别为(2.88±1.40)、(3.22±1.65)cm,部分病变碘染色内镜下显示范围更大,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);ME-NBI对早期食管鳞癌及其癌前病变浸润深度判断的准确度高于EUS,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。[结论]建议ESD前对非甲状腺功能亢进、过敏体质、颈部食管疾病患者行全食管碘染色内镜联合ME-NBI检查,以判断病变范围和浸润深度;单独运用EUS判断病变深度有一定的局限性。     

放大内镜对大肠粘膜病变的诊断价值

目的　探讨放大内镜结合腺管开口分型对大肠粘膜病变性质的诊断价值。方法　放大内镜检查发现病变后 ,对病灶喷洒靓胭脂 ,观察病灶粘膜腺管开口形态 ,按Kudo分型作病灶性质判断 ,并与切除或活检组织作病理学比较。结果　在 194处病灶中 ,放大内镜诊断为炎性息肉、管状腺瘤、绒毛状腺瘤和大肠癌的病理符合率分别为 10 0 %、93 3 %、90 9%、10 0 % ,总病理符合率为 96 1%。结论　放大内镜对判断大肠病变性质有较高的病理符合率 ,可区分肿瘤与非肿瘤、良性与恶性肿瘤 ,预测癌的浸润深度 ,决定合适的治疗方式 ,具有较高的临床应用价值     

放大内镜下大肠黏膜腺管开口分型对早期大肠癌检出的意义

目的 评价腺管开口分型对早期大肠癌及癌前病变检出的临床价值.方法 回顾2004年11月至2007年8月结肠镜检查,采用内镜下黏膜染色技术,结合放大内镜及实体镜观察腺管开口分型并与病理诊断对照,腺管开口分型采用工藤进英分型标准.结果 结肠镜检杳大肠病变共1496个,非肿瘤性病变占30.6%(458/1496),各类型腺瘤占43.9%(657/1496),大肠癌占25.5%(381/1496).早期大肠癌61个;大肠侧向发育型肿瘤36个,直径10～62 mm,其中Ⅱ型3个,Ⅲ1.型14个,Ⅳ型17个,Ⅴ型2个.管状腺瘤中以低级别上皮内瘤变居多,占87.5%(363/415);管状绒毛状腺瘤高级别上皮内瘤变占40.7%(61/150);绒毛状腺瘤腺管开口以Ⅳ型为主,高级别上皮内瘤变达85.7%(42/49).结论 大肠腺管开口分型对于判断肿瘤性、非肿瘤性病变以及早期大肠癌的检出有重要意义,对及时进行内镜治疗或手术切除具有一定的临床指导意义.     

NBI放大内镜联合超声内镜在早期食管癌及癌前病变中的诊断价值

目的探讨NBI放大内镜联合EUS在早期食管癌及癌前病变中的诊断价值。方法选择2014年1月至2018年3月期间在本院接受检查的94例早期食管癌及癌前病变患者作为研究对象,患者在进行普通白光内镜检查的基础上进行NBI放大内镜结合超声内镜检查,记录早期食管癌在普通白光内镜、NBI放大内镜模式下的不同表现,同时根据术后病理检查标准,确定早期食管癌及癌前病变在不同内镜模式下的检出情况及EUS检查对食管病变浸润深度的敏感性、特异性及准确性。结果94例早期食管癌及癌前病变患者经普通白光内镜模式、NBI放大内镜模式及病理检查共发现病灶107处,其中癌前病变43例,食管炎症53例,早期食管癌9例,食管癌侵及肌层2例;早期食管癌及癌前病变经NBI放大内镜检出率(86.54%),显著高于经普通白光内镜检出率(67.31%)(P 0.05);普通白光内镜下,共发现77处食管病灶,包括黏膜发红34例,黏膜发白27例,红白相间16例;其中Ⅱa型17例,Ⅱb型18例,Ⅱc19例,Ⅱa+Ⅱc型23例; NBI放大内镜下,共发现97例食管病灶,呈IPCL改变,其中Ⅳ、Ⅴ1、Ⅴ2型92例,Ⅴ3、Ⅴn型5例;食管病变经EUS判定发现癌前病变28个,黏膜内癌2个,黏膜下癌7个,侵及肌层癌2个,其中癌前病变经EUS判定的敏感性为93.33%、特异性为81.82%、准确性为90.24%;黏膜内癌+黏膜下癌经EUS判定的敏感性为77.78%、特异性为87.50%、准确性为85.37%。结论 NBI放大内镜联合超声内镜检查有利于清晰显示食管黏膜形态及血管网分布情况,提高了早期食管癌及癌前病变检出率,同时准确判断食管病变浸润深度,为临床选择合适治疗方案提供参考依据。     

小探头超声内镜对早期胃癌浸润深度的评估价值

[目的]探讨小探头超声内镜(endoscopic ultrasonography,EUS)在早期胃癌浸润深度评估中的应用价值。[方法]回顾性分析接受诊治的35例早期胃癌患者的临床资料,所有患者于内镜或手术治疗前均接受小探头EUS扫查明确病变浸润深度,并与内镜或手术治疗后病理进行比较,评估小探头EUS对判断早期胃癌浸润深度的准确性。[结果]35例中超声扫查示病灶浸润黏膜层18例、黏膜下层15例、固有肌层2例,内镜黏膜下剥离术或手术治疗后病理提示累及黏膜层19例、黏膜下层16例。EUS对病灶浸润深度总体判断准确率74.3%、低估率8.6%、过判率17.1%;EUS对黏膜层病变的诊断准确率为83.3%,对黏膜下层病变的诊断准确率为73.3%,两者比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。[结论]小探头EUS对早期胃癌浸润层次判断的准确性高,可作为治疗方案选择的重要依据。     

窄带光成像肠镜下黏膜血管形态对溃疡性结肠炎患者肠上皮增殖的预测价值

目的探讨窄带光成像(NBI)肠镜下溃疡性结肠炎(UC)患者不同黏膜血管形态(MVP)分型对UC患者肠上皮增殖的预测价值。方法选择2012年12月1日至2015年1月31日在北京协和医院就诊且接受NBI肠镜检查的42例UC患者,采集所有患者普通白光和NBI模式下119个结直肠病变的图像,并至少取1块病变组织用于病理学分析。根据随机数字表法将所有内镜图像随机分配至1位内镜医师(副主任医师),对肠黏膜组织的MVP分型和梅奥内镜评分(MES)做出判断。采用结肠炎组织学评分标准对肠黏膜炎症程度进行0~4级评分,根据免疫组织化学染色结果分析判断黏膜上皮Ki-67表达分布和表达程度。采用Student-Newman-Keuls(SNK)-q检验和Spearman相关分析进行统计学分析。结果UC患者的NBI肠镜下MVP分为清晰型、模糊型和消失型,根据黏膜表面腺管形态,消失型又分为隐窝开口亚型和绒毛亚型。NBI模式下MVP分型与普通白光模式下MES标准呈正相关(r=0.80,P<0.001)。MVP模糊型、消失型、消失型隐窝开口亚型、消失型绒毛亚型病变的Ki-67染色指数均高于MVP清晰型病变(30.3±12.8、45.9±12.5、45.5±12.1、46.3±13.1比15.6±7.3),差异均有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001);MVP消失型、消失型隐窝开口亚型、消失型绒毛亚型病变的Ki-67染色指数均高于MVP模糊型病变,差异均有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001)。NBI肠镜下不同MVP分型与Ki-67表达分布呈正相关(r=0.49,P<0.001)。组织学炎症程度为2、3、4级的Ki-67染色指数高于1级(28.8±10.9、40.2±11.6、49.5±10.3比17.1±8.4),差异有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001);组织学炎症程度为3、4级的Ki-67染色指数高于2级,组织学炎症程度为4级的Ki-67染色指数高于3级,差异均有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001)。Ki-67表达分布与组织学炎症程度呈正相关(r=0.56,P<0.001)。结论NBI肠镜下MVP分型可间接预测UC患者肠上皮增殖活性,肠上皮增殖活性可能与黏膜炎症程度密切相关。     

放大色素内镜在胃黏膜癌前病变诊断中的价值

目的:探讨放大色素内镜在胃黏膜癌前病变诊断中的应用价值.方法:应用电子放大内镜,结合美蓝染色,对180例患者的胃黏膜糜烂灶进行细微结构形态学观察,将胃黏膜小凹的形态分为:A型(圆点状)、B型(短小棒状)、C型(稀疏而粗大的线状)、D型(斑块状)、E型(绒毛状)和F型(小凹结构模糊不清、消失或伴异常增生毛细血管)6型,并与观察部位活检所得的病理组织学改变进行比较分析.结果:A,B型胃小凹主要见于正常胃黏膜,而C,D,E和F型分别见于活动性、萎缩性炎症和肠上皮化生及轻、重度异型增生的胃黏膜.E型黏膜约81.8%(99/121)为肠上皮化生.F型黏膜常提示病灶已出现不同程度的异型增生86.3%(69/80),F型黏膜伴异常增生毛细血管,89.9%出现异型增生.结论:放大色素内镜能准确识别胃小凹的形态,尤其是准确识别E和F型,有助于对肠上皮化生及异型增生等胃黏膜癌前病变的镜下诊断.     

窄带光成像肠镜下黏膜血管形态对溃疡性结肠炎患者肠上皮增殖的预测价值

目的探讨窄带光成像(NBI)肠镜下溃疡性结肠炎(UC)患者不同黏膜血管形态(MVP)分型对UC患者肠上皮增殖的预测价值。方法选择2012年12月1日至2015年1月31日在北京协和医院就诊且接受NBI肠镜检查的42例UC患者,采集所有患者普通白光和NBI模式下119个结直肠病变的图像,并至少取1块病变组织用于病理学分析。根据随机数字表法将所有内镜图像随机分配至1位内镜医师(副主任医师),对肠黏膜组织的MVP分型和梅奥内镜评分(MES)做出判断。采用结肠炎组织学评分标准对肠黏膜炎症程度进行0~4级评分,根据免疫组织化学染色结果分析判断黏膜上皮Ki-67表达分布和表达程度。采用Student-Newman-Keuls(SNK)-q检验和Spearman相关分析进行统计学分析。结果UC患者的NBI肠镜下MVP分为清晰型、模糊型和消失型,根据黏膜表面腺管形态,消失型又分为隐窝开口亚型和绒毛亚型。NBI模式下MVP分型与普通白光模式下MES标准呈正相关(r=0.80,P<0.001)。MVP模糊型、消失型、消失型隐窝开口亚型、消失型绒毛亚型病变的Ki-67染色指数均高于MVP清晰型病变(30.3±12.8、45.9±12.5、45.5±12.1、46.3±13.1比15.6±7.3),差异均有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001);MVP消失型、消失型隐窝开口亚型、消失型绒毛亚型病变的Ki-67染色指数均高于MVP模糊型病变,差异均有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001)。NBI肠镜下不同MVP分型与Ki-67表达分布呈正相关(r=0.49,P<0.001)。组织学炎症程度为2、3、4级的Ki-67染色指数高于1级(28.8±10.9、40.2±11.6、49.5±10.3比17.1±8.4),差异有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001);组织学炎症程度为3、4级的Ki-67染色指数高于2级,组织学炎症程度为4级的Ki-67染色指数高于3级,差异均有统计学意义(SNK-q检验,均P<0.001)。Ki-67表达分布与组织学炎症程度呈正相关(r=0.56,P<0.001)。结论NBI肠镜下MVP分型可间接预测UC患者肠上皮增殖活性,肠上皮增殖活性可能与黏膜炎症程度密切相关。     

EUS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS

The ultrasonograms of ulcerative colitis (UC) in active stage show hypoechoic changes of the colorectal wall from the mucosal layer to the deeper layers. These endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) changes of the wall recognized in active stage disappear or normalize in the stage of remission. When the stage of UC is exacerbated, the hypoechoic changes of the wall extend from the mucosal layer to the deeper layers with the increase of wall thickness. These EUS images of active UC are classified into the following types: UC‐M, thickening of the whole wall with the structure preserved; UC‐SM, hypoechoic changes reach the superficial portion of third layer with the thickening of whole wall; UC‐SM deep, hypoechoic changes reach the deeper portion of third layer with the thickening of whole wall; UC‐MP, hypoechoic changes reach the fourth layer with the thickening of whole wall; UC‐SS/SE, hypoechoic changes penetrate through the fourth layer with the thickening of whole wall. With the help of EUS we can demonstrate the severity of inflammation in UC. Moreover, in severe cases of UC, the treatment strategy including emergency surgery can be determined. EUS is a valuable method in the management of UC.     

Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound for acquiring the pathological diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma

Background and study aimsThis study aims to assess the value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for acquiring a pathological diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma (GIL).Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed all GIL patients who underwent EUS from November 2011 to July 2020 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. All patients with pathologically confirmed GIL were included. The characteristics of the lesions were recorded, and the efficacy for acquiring pathologic diagnosis between white light endoscopy (WLE) and EUS was analyzed.ResultsIn total, 404 patients with GIL who underwent EUS examination were included in this study. GIL was confirmed in 143 cases by after EUS judgment biopsy (AEJ biopsy), 11 cases by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), 293 cases by WLE biopsy, and 10 cases by surgical pathology for repeated negative pathologic results from EUS and WLE. Among all cases, 78.71% (318/404) were T1-T2, whereas 32.18% (130/404) were determined to have multiple lesions in the digestive tract wall. The positive rates of the WLE biopsy and AEJ biopsy of the involved gastric wall were 77.93% (293/376) and 89.38% (143/160), respectively. Twelve cases showed diffuse thickening of the gastric wall, and the total positive rate of EUS was 91.67% but 0% for WLE with this type of GIL. The total positive rate and positive rate during the first examination of EUS were all significantly higher than those of WLE. Moreover, 19.68% of the patients showed negative results during their WLE examination and then received a positive pathologic diagnosis upon EUS examination, but none had the opposite process.ConclusionsEUS was found to be a better tool for acquiring a pathological diagnosis of GIL than conventional WLE, especially for GIL similar to linitis plastica.     

不同影像学方法对胰腺癌胰胆管梗阻程度的定量评估的比较

目的 前瞻性评估US、MSCT、EUS和MRI 4种影像学方法 在胰腺癌胰胆管梗阻程度定量评估中的价值.方法 应用US、MSCT、EUS和MRI 4种方法 对连续收治的68例胰腺癌患者分别于术前测量其肝外胆管、胰管直径,评估其梗阻扩张程度,并与手术标本测量结果 进行相关性分析.结果 US、MSCT、MRI、EUS测量的肝外胆管直径分别为(16.60±6.33)mm、(18.90±6.74)mm、(18.80±5.88)mm和(17.26±4.83)mm,手术标本测量的直径为(18.39±6.05)mm.4种检查方法 测量值与手术标本测量值的相关性分别为r=0.3839,P=0.1055;r=0.71 13,P=0.0011;r=0.3759,P=0.0465; r=0.3376,P=0.2872.Kappa值分别为0.6285、0.7115、0.6661和0.7490.测量的胰管直径分别为(15.90±3.41)mm、(6.83±3.70)mm、(6.77±3.22)mm和(5.58±2.65)mm,手术标本测量的直径为(5.97±2.60)mm.4种检查方法 测量值与手术标本测量值的相关性分别为r=0.3584,P=0.2895;r=0.6148,P＜0.0001;r=0.7373,P＜0.0001; r=1.0746,P＜0.0001.Kappa值分别为4.159、9.094、9.001和4.050,均具较好一致性.结论 对肝外胆管、胰管梗阻的评估可首选US作为初筛,选择MRI或MSCT进行量化评估,必要时结合EUS,可较准确预测胆管、胰管梗阻程度.     

Clinical usefulness of EUS for active ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with repeated flare-ups. It is difficult to predict the response to medical treatment and the necessity for surgery. OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to determine whether EUS is useful for evaluating the depth of intestinal inflammation, predicting the response to medical treatment, and determining the necessity for surgery in active UC. DESIGN: Both the in vivo and in vitro studies used an observational design. METHODS: In vitro, the depth of intestinal inflammation on EUS was compared with histopathologic findings in 13 cases of surgically resected UC. In vivo, the severest lesions on colonoscopic examination were evaluated by EUS in 42 patients with active UC to identify US characteristics that indicated the need for surgery. RESULTS: In vitro, the degree of vertical spread of intestinal inflammation of UC on EUS was consistent with histopathologic findings in 45 of 50 sites (90%) studied. In vivo, intestinal inflammation was evaluated to discover whether it extended into the muscularis propria or deeper on preoperative EUS in a significantly higher percentage of patients who required surgery (67%, 10/15) than in patients in whom remission was induced by medical treatment (19%, 5/27; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: EUS can accurately and objectively evaluate the degree of vertical spread of intestinal inflammation in UC. EUS is useful for predicting the response to medical treatment and for determining the necessity for surgery in active UC.     

超声图像特征参数分析在胰腺癌鉴别诊断中的应用

目的 探讨应用数字图像处理技术提取超声内镜图像纹理特征,运用于鉴别诊断胰腺癌和慢性胰腺炎的价值.方法 纳入2005年2月至2011年3月行内镜超声检查(EUS)的经病理确诊的202例胰腺癌患者,与2002年5月至2011年8月行EUS检查的104例慢性胰腺炎患者(包括34例自身免疫性胰腺炎),共306例.提取EUS图像常见特征并联合运用类间距和顺序前进搜索算法进行特征选择.根据最优特征组合,通过支撑向量机将病例进行自动分类为胰腺癌和慢性胰腺炎病例并与实际分类结果比较,计算该诊断方法的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阴性预测值和阳性预测值.结果 根据所有入选的EUS图像共提取9大类,105个特征用于模式分类,最终选取13个特征为最优特征组合.将现有306例病例,随机划分为训练集和测试集,训练集153例(胰腺癌101例,慢性胰腺炎52例)、测试集153例(胰腺癌101例,慢性胰腺炎52例),用训练集训练分类器,测试集进行测试.共进行200次随机实验,最终分类的准确性平均为( 86.08±0.14)％,敏感度为(79.47±0.32)％,特异度为(89.71±0.18)％,阳性预测值为(81.21±0.26)％,阴性预测值为(88.93 ±0.14)％.结论 超声图像纹理特征分析鉴别诊断胰腺癌和慢性胰腺炎准确率高,且实施简便、无创,经济费用低,为早期胰腺癌和慢性胰腺炎的诊断提供了一个新的、有价值的研究方向.     

AUTOFLUORESCENCE IMAGING COLONOSCOPY IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS: COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL AND NARROW‐BAND IMAGING COLONOSCOPY

Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) endoscopy is a procedure to demonstrate gastrointestinal neoplasia and inflammation as colored areas distinct from the surrounding normal tissue. In the present pilot study AFI colonoscopy findings in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) were analyzed. Ten patients with UC were examined using conventional colonoscopy, followed by AFI colonoscopy and narrow band imaging (NBI) colonoscopy. Images under AFI colonoscopy were classified into high AF (green or white) and low AF (magenta). NBI colonoscopy determined vasculature, either into regular, irregular or obscure mucosal vascular pattern. A total of 48 colorectal segments were assessed with the three modes of colonoscopy. The AF was high in 100% of the segments with normal mucosa or with quiescent disease and in 44% of the segments with active mucosa (P < 0.001). Mucosal vascular pattern under NBI was obscure more frequently in low‐AF segments than in high‐AF segments (P < 0.001). Inflammatory infiltrate was more severe and crypt distortion was more frequent in the latter than in the former (P < 0.001). There were trends towards more frequent obscure vascular pattern and more severe inflammation in active segments with low AF than in those with high AF mucosa. These findings suggest that AF status determined by AFI colonoscopy may be a clue for subclassification of active UC.     

Minute findings by magnifying colonoscopy are useful for the evaluation of ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND: Colonoscopy has an important role in the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. However, colonoscopic findings are inadequate for the prediction of relapse without histologic examination. In this study, the role of magnifying colonoscopy in ulcerative colitis was evaluated. METHODS: One hundred sixteen magnifying colonoscopy observations were made in 61 patients with ulcerative colitis between January 1994 and October 1998. A simple classification of magnifying colonoscopic findings into 5 categories was devised as follows: regularly arranged crypt openings, villous-like, minute defects of epithelium, small yellowish spots, and coral reef-like appearance. The colonoscopic findings by classification were compared with histopathologic findings, and the usefulness of the classification for predicting relapse was prospectively analyzed in 18 patients. RESULTS: Compared with grade as determined by conventional colonoscopy, there was a better correlation between the classification of findings by magnifying colonoscopy and histopathologic findings (r(2) = 0.665, 0.807, respectively). Of 18 patients studied prospectively, 7 of 9 with minute defects of epithelium relapsed within 6 months, and the cumulative nonrelapsing rate was significantly lower in patients with minute defects of epithelium compared with those without minute defects of epithelium (p = 0.0059). Moreover, minute defects of epithelium was found to be a significant independent predictive factor for relapse (multivariate analysis, Cox proportional hazards model; p = 0.0203). CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed classification of magnifying colonoscopic findings in patients with ulcerative colitis is useful for the evaluation of disease activity and for the prediction of periods of remission.