Magnification Endoscopy Better for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Researchers at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago say a procedure known as magnification endoscopy, currently being offered at fewer than half a dozen hospitals worldwide, may someday become the gold standard for determining a person's risk of colon cancer.

Using the combination of optical and digital technology to magnifiy the colon 70 times, the researchers report they can see microscopic lesions of the colon not visible during a standard colonoscopy.

These microscopic lesions in the lining of the colon may be an important biomarker for the development of colon cancer several years before polyps appear, the researchers said.

Patients undergoing magnification endoscopy at University of Illinois l find the 30-to-40 minute test similar to a standard colonoscopy.

First, a new, improved technique is used to prepare the colon. The tissue of the colon is washed and stained using a barium enema infused with methylene blue dye. Doctors then examine the rectum and colon using a standard colonoscope.

When this view is complete, the magnification lens is turned on to allow a more detailed look at the distal colon, where the majority of cancers occur. Physicians create a digital movie of each procedure for later analysis.

"We believe magnification endoscopy can become the gold standard for determining a patient's lifetime risk of developing colon cancer," says Dr. Richard Benya. "If we can identify patients who are not at risk for colon cancer, we can potentially save patients from additional testing and removal of polyps."

Other sources: University of Illinois at Chicago