Narrow-Band Imaging Identifies Airway Lesions Not Seen with Regular Bronchoscopy

NEW YORK JUL 10, 2007 (Reuters Health) - Dysplasia and malignant changes in the airways can be seen with narrow-band imaging (NBI) when they"re not seen with white-light (WL) bronchoscopy, according to a report in the June issue of Chest.

Dr. Brad D. Vincent and associates from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, characterized the appearance of different airway mucosal conditions ranging from normal to malignant using narrow-band imaging (NBI) and investigated whether NBI could improve detection of dysplasia and malignancy compared to white-light (WL) bronchoscopy alone.

Among 22 patients examined, NBI detected five instances of dysplasia or cancer (23% of patients) that were not seen with WL, the researchers report.

"For all cases of cellular atypia (malignancy plus dysplasia), the sensitivity ratio was 1.63 for NBI plus WL over WL alone," they found. "The addition of NBI to WL bronchoscopy significantly improved detection of bronchial dysplasia compared to WL bronchoscopy alone."

Narrow band imaging "requires closer examination both as a stand-alone technology and in comparison with other imaging strategies including autofluorescence bronchoscopy in the setting of clinical trials," the investigators say. "Future directions include combining NBI with molecular markers in those at high risk for lung cancer."

SOURCE:

• Chest 2007;131:1794-1799.