Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2022; 28(15): 1601-1603
Published online Apr 21, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i15.1601
Role of magnifying narrow-band imaging endoscopy for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric precancerous conditions: Few issues
Saroj Kanta Sahu, Ayaskanta Singh
Saroj Kanta Sahu, Department of Gastroenterology, Sum Ultimate Medicare, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 751003, Odisha, India
Ayaskanta Singh, Department of Gastroenterology, IMS and SUM Hospital, SOA University, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
Author contributions: Sahu SK designed the article and Singh A revised it; both authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ayaskanta Singh, MBBS, MD, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, IMS and SUM Hospital, SOA University, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India. ayaskant1ce@gmail.com
Received: June 2, 2021
Peer-review started: June 2, 2021
First decision: June 22, 2021
Revised: July 2, 2021
Accepted: March 25, 2022
Article in press: March 25, 2022
Published online: April 21, 2022
Processing time: 316 Days and 13.5 Hours
Abstract

Standard endoscopy with biopsy and narrow-band imaging with guided biopsy are techniques for the detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-related gastritis and precancerous lesions. In this study, the authors compared standard endoscopy and magnified narrow-band imaging (commonly known as NBI-M) in the diagnosis of H. pylori infections, atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia. Although the sensitivity of NBI-M is better than standard endoscopy, the diagnostic accuracy did not differ substantially between the diagnostic modalities. Future prospective studies may guide endoscopists in difficult cases regarding which modality is more useful and cost-effective for the diagnosis of H. pylori-related gastritis and precancerous conditions.

Keywords: Standard endoscopy; Magnified narrow band imaging; Helicobacter pylori; Atrophic gastritis; Intestinal metaplasia; Pepsinogen

Core Tip: Magnified narrow band imaging (NBI-M) is used for diagnosis of dysplastic and cancerous lesions. The study is the first of its kind to evaluate this modality for detection of Helicobacter pylori related gastritis and precancerous lesions. A procedure to be widely accepted should be cost effective and less time consuming. Whereas white light endoscopy is commonly used by endoscopist to detect any cancer or precancerous lesions, formal endoscopic training regarding use of NBI-M enhances feasibility and detection rate. Whether the combination of NBI-M and artificial intelligence can replace biopsy remains a million dollar question.