Comparing size measurement of colorectal polyps using a novel virtual scale endoscope, endoscopic ruler or forceps: A preclinical randomized trial

Roupen Djinbachian; Mahsa Taghiakbari; Claire Haumesser; Melissa Zarandi-Nowroozi; Maria Abou Khalil; Sacha Sidani; Jeremy Liu; Benoit Panzini; Daniel von Renteln

doi:10.1055/a-2005-7548

Comparing size measurement of colorectal polyps using a novel virtual scale endoscope, endoscopic ruler or forceps: A preclinical randomized trial

Endosc Int Open. 2023 Jan 30;11(1):E128-E135. doi: 10.1055/a-2005-7548. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Roupen Djinbachian^{1

2}, Mahsa Taghiakbari^{1

2}, Claire Haumesser^{2

3}, Melissa Zarandi-Nowroozi⁴, Maria Abou Khalil^{1

2}, Sacha Sidani^{1

2}, Jeremy Liu^{1

2}, Benoit Panzini^{1

2}, Daniel von Renteln^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, Montreal University Hospital Center (CHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
² Montreal University Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
³ University of Montreal Medical School, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
⁴ Division of Internal Medicine, Montreal University Hospital Center (CHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

Background and study aims Accurate polyp size measurement is important for guideline conforming choice of polypectomy techniques and subsequent surveillance interval assignments. Some endoscopic tools (biopsy forceps [BF] or endoscopic rulers [ER]) exist to help with visual size estimation. A virtual scale endoscope (VSE) has been developed that allows superimposing a virtual measurement scale during live endoscopies. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of VSE when compared to ER and BF-based measurement. Methods We conducted a preclinical randomized trial to evaluate the relative accuracy of size measurement of simulated colorectal polyps when using: VSE, ER, and BF. Six endoscopists performed 60 measurements randomized at a 1:1:1 ratio using each method. Primary outcome was relative accuracy in polyp size measurement. Secondary outcomes included misclassification of sizes at the 5-, 10-, and 20-mm thresholds. Results A total of 360 measurements were performed. The relative accuracy of BF, ER, and VSE was 78.9 % (95 %CI = 76.2-81.5), 78.4 % (95 %CI = 76.0-80.8), and 82.7 % (95 %CI = 80.8-84.8). VSE had significantly higher accuracy compared to BF ( P = 0.02) and ER ( P = 0.006). VSE misclassified a lower percentage of polyps > 5 mm as ≤ 5 mm (9.4 %) compared to BF (15.7 %) and ER (20.9 %). VSE misclassified a lower percentage of ≥ 20 mm polyps as < 20 mm (8.3 %) compared with BF (66.7 %) and ER (75.0 %). Of polyps ≥10mm, 25.6 %, 25.5 %, and 22.5 % were misclassified as <10 mm with ER, BF, and VSE, respectively. Conclusions VSE had significantly higher relative accuracy in measuring polyps compared to ER or BF assisted measurement. VSE improves correct classification of polyps at clinically important size thresholds.

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