Narrow band imaging in Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus is a well-recognized premalignant condition for the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma, the most rapidly rising cancer in the USA and Western Europe. Detection of intestinal metaplasia and neoplasia arising in Barrett's esophagus patients continues to be a challenge. Limitations of conventional endoscopy with random biopsies provide the necessary impetus for the development of new approaches aimed at improving current screening and surveillance strategies. Narrow band imaging is a novel endoscopic technique that uses a higher intensity of blue light with narrow band filters, which allows a detailed inspection of mucosal and vascular surface patterns with high-level resolution and contrast. Preliminary studies have provided encouraging results for Narrow band imaging alone or in combination with other advanced endoscopic techniques in the screening and surveillance of Barrett's esophagus patients.