Linked color imaging improves endoscopic diagnosis of active Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Background and study aims: Linked color imaging (LCI) is a new image-enhanced endoscopy technique using a laser light source to enhance slight differences in mucosal color. The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of LCI and conventional white light imaging (WLI) endoscopy for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed images from 60 patients examined with WLI and LCI endoscopy between October 2013 and May 2014. Thirty patients had H. pylori infections, and other thirty patients tested negative for H. pylori after eradication therapy. Four endoscopists evaluated the 2 types of images to determine which was better at facilitating a diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Results: H. pylori infection was identified with LCI by enhancing the red appearance of the fundic gland mucosa. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for diagnosing H. pylori infection using WLI were 74.2 %, 81.7 %, and 66.7 %, respectively, while those for LCI were 85.8 %, 93.3 %, and 78.3 %, respectively. Thus, the accuracy and sensitivity for LCI were significantly higher than those for WLI (P = 0.002 and P = 0.011, respectively). The kappa values for the inter- and intraobserver variability among the 4 endoscopists were higher for LCI than for WLI. Conclusions: H. pylori infection can be identified by enhancing endoscopic images of the diffuse redness of the fundic gland using LCI. LCI is a novel image-enhanced endoscopy and is more useful for diagnosing H. pylori infection than is WLI.

Improved Visibility of Barrett’s Esophagus with Linked Color Imaging: Inter- and Intra-Rater Reliability and Quantitative Analysis

“…In recent years, the use of LCI has been reported in studies of gastric cancer [6-8], chronic gastritis [9], colon cancer [10], gastric and colon lesions [11], and ulcerative colitis [12]. However, reports of the diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus using LCI and BLI are nonexistent.…”

The Usefulness of an Intra-Oropharyngeal U-turn Method using Trans-Nasal Endoscopy for Detecting Superficial Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Base of the Tongue

“…The endoscope allows for detailed observations with a close-up view. LCI is a new image-enhanced technology Available for the LASERIO system that makes slight differences in mucosal color tones easier to recognize [11]. The LCI mode allows for detailed observation from a distance.…”

“…It is equipped with a narrow-band light observation function that takes advantage of the characteristics of laser light, as well as a white light observation function. The linked color imaging (LCI) function is a new image enhancing technology available for the LASERIO system that makes slight differences in mucosal color tones easier to recognize [11].…”

Observation of the Pharynx to the Cervical Esophagus Using Trans-nasal Endoscopy with Image-enhanced Endoscopy for Early Detection of Head and Neck Cancers

“…The development of trans-nasal endoscopy with image enhanced endoscopyNarrow Band Imaging (NBI) [5][6][7][8]. Blue Laser Imaging (BLI) and Linked Color Imaging (LCI), now enables the wider observation and can be used to obtain adequate information for diagnosing early pharyngeal cancers without magnification [9,10].…”

“…The linked color imaging (LCI) function is a new image enhancing technology available for the LASERIO system that makes slight differences in mucosal color tones easier to recognize [10].…”