Imaging of the Esophagus Using a SECM Capsule

Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory condition of the esophagus that occurs in response to certain foods or allergens. Approximately 300,000 people in the US have EoE, the incidence of newly diagnosed EoE is ~30,000/year, and EoE is found in 5-10% of all patients undergoing upper endoscopy. EoE is associated with debilitating symptoms, and is a common cause of dysphagia, strictures, and food impaction; it may even lead to esophageal perforation. Because of the impact of EoE on quality of life as well as the concern that this disease may progress to esophageal fibrosis with unknown long-term risks, experts recommend that EoE be treated until symptoms and eosinophilic infiltrate are resolved. Because the only objective method for diagnosing EoE is histopathologic assessment of multiple upper endoscopic biopsies, the processes of monitoring the esophagus during therapy and the food reintroduction involve a high number of repeat endoscopies. This process is both time consuming and frustrating for patients and their families. Because the endoscopic biopsy requires conscious sedation, it is also costly, exceeding $1000 per procedure. Given the rapid increase in the number of patients with this disease, there is a compelling need for a less invasive and more cost-effective means of identifying eosinophils in the esophagus.

Based on the extensive experience with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and OFDI, the investigators at Tearney laboratory at MGH have developed a spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM) technology that is able to acquire images at significantly higher frame rates than standard confocal microscopy. This SECM capability enables imaging of large portions of the esophagus at 2-µm resolution in realistic procedure times. Furthermore, the investigators at Tearney laboratory have created a tethered capsule SECM device that can be swallowed and used for EoE screening. The investigators at Tearney laboratory lab performed a pilot study using a SECM capsule on 58 subjects (2013-P-000863). The imaging was successful with no adverse or unanticipated events. SECM endoscopy capsule is similar to the approved endoscopy capsule.

A total of sixty (60) subjects will be recruited for this study. The imaging of the esophagus will be obtained. Subjects will not be sedated for the procedure.

The images obtained by the SECM capsule will be compared to the images obtained by the clinical endoscopy and biopsy. SECM imaging will be used for research purposes only and will not be used for diagnosis purposes.