Narrow‑band imaging and white‑light endoscopy for detection of colorectal polyps: a randomized study

INTRODUCTION Narrow‑band imaging (NBI) is a new, promising technique that might be helpful in the detection of colorectal polyps during colonoscopy.
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to compare the usefulness of NBI with white‑light endoscopy (WLE) for the detection of polyps as well as to determine the distribution of missed polyps.
PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 253 patients were included, in whom colonoscopy was performed twice: 126 patients underwent 2 procedures using white light, while in 127 patients NBI was used for the second procedure. The number and location of colorectal polyps identified during the second colonoscopy were recorded.
RESULTS No significant differences were observed in the rates of detected polyps, adenomas, and hyperplastic polyps between the WLE and NBI groups (38 vs. 48, P <0.2051; 11 vs. 19, P < 0.12; 27 vs. 29, P <0.4647, respectively). A half of all missed adenomas (n = 15) were found in the cecum and the ascending colon.
CONCLUSIONS WLE and NBI seem to be equally effective in identifying missed adenomas and hyperplastic polyps during colonoscopy. Repeated endoscopy of the cecum and ascending colon may significantly increase the number of detected adenomas.