The Utility of Non-magnified NBI in Barrett's Oesophagus Neoplasia Detection and Delineation by Non-expert Endoscopists

Endoscopy plays a pivotal role in the management (diagnosis and treatment) of Barrett's related neoplasia. The standard endoscopy is generally done under white light, which is known to be imperfect in detecting early neoplastic lesion. Narrow band imaging (NBI) improves definition of the superficial morphology and vasculature of GI mucosa. Some studies have shown the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce the number of biopsies required for Barrett's related neoplasia. This can ultimately improve the cost-effectiveness of endoscopic surveillance. The ability to discriminate between healthy and diseased tissue also makes NBI a useful technique for the delineation of lesions to treat with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). However not all studies provide evidence of diagnostic utility. Also the majority of these studies have been conducted by expert endoscopists, which makes the results difficult to extend to general endoscopy practice. The limited number of Barrett's specialists in certain areas of the country validates the need for a study to investigate whether there is an objective improvement in detection and delineation of Barrett's neoplastic lesions by less experienced observers. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of non-magnified NBI in non-expert identification of lesions as compared to expert endoscopists as well as the inter-observer agreement among endoscopists on WLE and NBI.