New high-resolution colonoscopes and filter technologies are allowing us to visualize more lesions and better characterize lesions within the gastrointestinal tract. In light of recent findings that flat and serrated lesions are more likely to contain invasive cancer and that even small lesions (5-10 mm) may contain advanced histology, detecting these lesions earlier with improved optical technologies may help decrease the rate of interval cancers after colonoscopy. With the limited accuracy of white-light colonoscopy (59%-84%) in distinguishing non-neoplastic lesions from neoplastic lesions, these new technologies can help us improve our abilities to risk stratify patients and determine more precise surveillance intervals.
Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.