| Abstract: | Abstract: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer continues to be a significant malignant disease. It is well recognized that early detection of dysplastic changes prior to invasive growth may have a pronounced effect on the clinical efficacy of treatment and subsequent patient survival. Standard white-light endoscopic visualization of such early lesions is often difficult and many premalignant lesions remain undetected during routine screening procedures. Additionally, dysplastic lesions are usually not distinguished against surrounding normal tissue, and visible non-adenomatous lesions such as hyperplastic polyps are often indistinguishable from adenomatous polyps. However, recent developments in endoscopic technology have led to the development of more sensitive endoscopic screening methods. Fluorescence-based endoscopic imaging or spectroscopy of the gastrointestinal tract may offer a novel and alternative means of detecting and identifying premalignant and malignant lesions otherwise occult to conventional white-light endoscopy. The purpose of this review is to present a general overview of the current developments and possible clinical roles of light-induced fluorescence endoscopy (LIFE) as an adjunct to conventional diagnostic endoscopy for screening and surveillance for premaligant and malignant gastrointestinal lesions. (Dig Endosc 1999; 11: 108–118) |
