A lower dose of fluorescein sodium is more suitable for confocal laser endomicroscopy: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Image quality can be guaranteed with the conventional dosage of fluorescein sodium in probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE). However, yellow discoloration of the skin seriously affects daily life and simultaneously increases the risk of adverse events such as allergic reactions. The aim of this study was to test whether a lower dosage of fluorescein sodium can provide satisfactory image quality and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) through a randomized blind controlled trial. METHODS: Consecutive patients were randomly assigned to different doses of fluorescein sodium. Image quality was determined by the endoscopists' subjective assessments and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) assessment systems. Skin discoloration was tested using a neonatal transcutaneous jaundice detector. In addition, consecutive patients with a known or suspected diagnosis of GIM were examined by pCLE with the lower dose and the traditional dose. RESULTS: Only 0.01 mL/kg dose of 10% fluorescein sodium led to a significant decrease in image quality (P < .05), and a dose of 0.02 mL/kg had the highest SNR value (P < .05). There were no significant differences in skin discoloration between the 0.01 mL/kg and 0.02 mL/kg doses (P = .148) and no statistical difference in the diagnostic accuracy of pCLE for GIM between the 0.02 mL/kg and 0.10 mL/kg doses (P > .05). The kappa values for the correlation between pCLE and histopathology were 0.867 (95% confidence interval, 0.782-0.952) and 0.891 (95% confidence interval, 0.811-0.971). CONCLUSIONS: The 0.02 mL/kg dose of 10% fluorescein sodium seems to be the best dose for pCLE in the upper GI tract, with comparable image quality with the conventional dose and insignificant skin discoloration. This dose is also very efficient for the diagnosis of GIM.

ASGE Technology Committee systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the ASGE Preservation and Incorporation of Valuable Endoscopic Innovations thresholds for adopting real-time imaging-assisted endoscopic targeted biopsy during endoscopic surveillance of Barrett's esophagus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic real-time imaging of Barrett's esophagus (BE) with advanced imaging technologies enables targeted biopsies and may eliminate the need for random biopsies to detect dysplasia during endoscopic surveillance of BE. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) Technology Committee to specifically assess whether acceptable performance thresholds outlined by the ASGE Preservation and Incorporation of Valuable Endoscopic Innovations (PIVI) document for clinical adoption of these technologies have been met. METHODS: We conducted meta-analyses calculating the pooled sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and specificity for chromoendoscopy by using acetic acid and methylene blue, electronic chromoendoscopy by using narrow-band imaging, and confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) for the detection of dysplasia. Random effects meta-analysis models were used. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated by means of I(2) statistics. RESULTS: The pooled sensitivity, NPV, and specificity for acetic acid chromoendoscopy were 96.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95-98), 98.3% (95% CI, 94.8-99.4), and 84.6% (95% CI, 68.5-93.2), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, NPV, and specificity for electronic chromoendoscopy by using narrow-band imaging were 94.2% (95% CI, 82.6-98.2), 97.5% (95% CI, 95.1-98.7), and 94.4% (95% CI, 80.5-98.6), respectively. The pooled sensitivity, NPV, and specificity for endoscope-based CLE were 90.4% (95% CI, 71.9-97.2), 98.3% (95% CI, 94.2-99.5), and 92.7% (95% CI, 87-96), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis indicates that targeted biopsies with acetic acid chromoendoscopy, electronic chromoendoscopy by using narrow-band imaging, and endoscope-based CLE meet the thresholds set by the ASGE PIVI, at least when performed by endoscopists with expertise in advanced imaging techniques. The ASGE Technology Committee therefore endorses using these advanced imaging modalities to guide targeted biopsies for the detection of dysplasia during surveillance of patients with previously nondysplastic BE, thereby replacing the currently used random biopsy protocols.