| Theme |
Newly developed devices of colonoscope and their prospect in practice |
| Title |
Autofluorescent endoscopic imaging system |
| Author |
Tatsuo Ogihara |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Medical School |
| Author |
Osamu Kobayashi |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Medical School |
| Author |
Akimitsu Ohkawa |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Medical School |
| Author |
Akihiro Namihisa |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Medical School |
| Author |
Nobuhiro Sato |
Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Medical School |
| [ Summary ] |
Noninvasive pathological diagnosis, using endoscopy, is expected to be the next generation endoscopic systems. An autofluorescent endoscopic imaging system for gastrointestinal mucosa has been developed based on the concept that the autofluorescent spectra of neoplastic tissues are different from those of normal tissues when excited by blue light. The prototype system consisted of a fiber optical endoscope connected to high sensitivity cameras for the production of weak autofluorescent images and a monitor on which a pseudo color image of neoplastic lesions is displayed in real time. We investigated the clinical usefulness of the autofluorescent imaging system in the detection of neoplastic lesions such as superficial colonic lesions, which were sometimes difficult to detect through conventional endoscopy. The results suggested that small or superficial neoplastic lesions could be detected with this system. An autofluorescent imaging system is under development, using videoendoscopy with 2 CCDs for capturing conventional and fluorescent images. In conclusion, the autofluorescent endoscopy system is a technique used to discriminate neoplastic tissues from normal tissues as an adjunct to ordinary white light endoscopy. Moreover, this system, which needs no administration of a photosensitive agent, may be useful in screening for the early detection of cancers and/or pre-cancerous colonic lesions. |