Measuring Barrett's Epithelial Thickness with Volumetric Laser Endomicroscopy as a Biomarker to Guide Treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment outcomes vary for unknown reasons. One hypothesis is that variations in Barrett's epithelial thickness (BET) are associated with reduced RFA efficacy for thicker BET and strictures for thinner BET. Volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE) is an imaging modality that acquires high-resolution, depth-resolved images of BE. However, the attenuation of light by tissue and the lack of layering in Barrett's tissue challenge BET measurements and the study of relationships between thickness and RFA outcomes. We aimed to quantify BET and compared the reliability of standard and contrast-enhanced VLE images.

Methods

Baseline VLE scans from BE patients without prior ablative therapy and a Prague (M) length of > 1 cm were obtained from the

SUBMITTER: Levink IJM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6522645 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature