Spectral Artificial Vision Endoscopy for Assisting the Differential Diagnosis of Endometrial Polyps, In Vivo

Abstract

We are the first to present results from a pilot clinical study designed for the purpose of establishing spectral mapping patterns, as a potential novel imaging assay for identifying and discriminating between functional and nonfunctional endometrial polyps in vivo. The Spectral Artificial Vision Endoscope (SAVE) was used and validated in this study. The SAVE system, adapted to a regular hysteroscope, was able to operate in several imaging modes, including color imaging, infrared imaging, narrow band imaging and spectral mapping, all acquired at a video rate and simultaneously. The spectral maps generated by the SAVE system for 28 patients with endometrial polyps displayed characteristic patterns capable of discriminating functional from nonfunctional polyps with remarkable consistency (Spearman R=0.912, p<10-6). These preliminary clinical validation results highlighted the great potential of the in vivo spectral mapping imaging modality as an adjunct tool to conventional color camera-based hysteroscopy, offering improved and quantitative diagnosis.