Abstract
There are pros and cons concerning the efficacy of narrow band imaging (NBI) for the detection of colorectal polyps. Magnified NBI has been reported to be as useful as chromoendoscopy in the differential diagnosis between colorectal neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions. It is also useful for the prediction of cancer depth, and for determining treatment selection, endoscopic or surgical, although its diagnostic accuracy is slightly inferior to that of magnifying chromoendoscopy. However, there are many different classifications concerning NBI findings of the colorectum, and it is not decided yet whether we should look only at the vascular pattern or if we should also include the membranous pattern during observation with NBI. Ulcerative colitis-associated dysplasia and cancer are known to be difficult to be diagnosed endoscopically. It is anticipated that NBI could help in their detection in the clinical setting.
