Value of magnification endoscopy in current clinical practice.

Abstract

Ongoing technological developments in endoscopy have led to an ever improving evaluation and management of digestive diseases. The recent development of a new range of high-power magnification, or zoom, endoscopes has boosted interest in this technique, which has become increasingly available to the modern gastroenterologist. Magnification is often used in conjunction with chromoendoscopy in order to improve the detection and diagnosis of neoplastic tissue. Currently, the main clinical indications are the diagnosis of Barrett oesophagus, the colonoscopic surveillance of colonic polyps and the assessment of disease severity or the presence of dysplasia in inflammatory bowel disease. In this article we present an overview of the clinical implementations of magnification endoscopy in current and future gastroenterological practice.