Innovative Endoscopies to Be Clinically Used in the Near Future

Abstract

In contrast to traditional single-lens endoscopies, recently introduced full-spectrum endoscopy (FUSE) scopes include multiple lenses providing a much wider field of view. In many studies, FUSE was shown to be feasible, effective, and safe, and FUSE colonoscopy yielded higher polyp (PDR), adenoma (ADR), and diverticular (DDR) detection rates than did traditional colonoscopy, without therapeutic failure or complications. Moreover, using FUSE gastroscopy, the prevalence of duodenal peri-ampullary diverticula (DPAD) in the general population could be analyzed without using ERCP. In the future, the next generation of modified FUSE system is expected to be useful in direct peroral cholangioscopy and in simultaneous multi-polypectomies.

A large body of research has underlined the merits and drawbacks of OCT in gastrointestinal disease. These endoscopic researches demonstrated that OCT imaging may be readily integrated with existing endoscopic procedures and potentially affords valuable diagnostic information. However, OCT technique is still required to meet set standards before they can be recommended for real clinical practice use. There are very few clinical studies using OCT in the gastrointestinal tract that provide critical solutions to certain clinical problems, and commercially available or custom-made OCT was only recently released. So OCT currently remains largely an investigational modality not accepted as a standard imaging tool for most gastrointestinal diseases. After further refinement of this technique, OCT may permit true optical biopsy in the future.