Transparency-enhancing technology allows the three-dimensional assessment of esophageal carcinoma obtained by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND: Although much progress has been made in diagnosis of carcinomas, no established methods have been confirmed to elucidate their morphological features. METHODS: Three-dimensional structure of esophageal carcinomas was assessed using transparency-enhancing technology. Endoscopically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was fluorescently stained, optically cleared using a transparency-enhancing reagent called LUCID, and visualized using laser scanning microscopy. The resulting microscope images were converted to virtual HE images for observation using ImageJ software. RESULTS: Microscopic observation and image editing enabled three-dimensional image reconstruction and conversion to virtual HE images. The structure of abnormal blood vessels in esophageal carcinoma recognized by endoscopy could be observed in the 3 dimensions. Squamous cell carcinoma and normal squamous epithelium could be distinguished in the virtual HE images. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that transparency-enhancing technology and virtual HE images may be feasible for clinical application and represent a novel histopathological method for evaluating endoscopically resected specimens.

Prediction of the depth of invasion in superficial pharyngeal cancer: Microvessel morphological evaluation with narrowband imaging.

BACKGROUND: Magnifying endoscopy with narrowband imaging (ME-NBI) is useful in predicting the invasion depth by examining the microvascular status of tumor surfaces. This retrospective study aimed to determine its efficacy in pharyngeal cancer. METHODS: Between April 2016 and March 2018, 59 lesions from 46 patients who underwent transoral resection were retrospectively analyzed. Using ME-NBI, microvascular status was classified into B1, B2, or B3, based on the classification of the Japan Esophageal Society. RESULTS: A significant correlation was observed between microvascular status and invasion depth (P = .011). Mean thickness of lesions with B1, B2, and B3 vessels were 563, 1364, and 2825 µm, respectively (P = .006). In previously treated lesions, a significant correlation was observed between microvascular status and invasion depth (P = .012). CONCLUSIONS: ME-NBI is useful in predicting the invasion depth and thickness of pharyngeal tumors, even in patients with previously treated lesions.