2017 Volume 59 Issue 7 Pages 1473-1481
Imaging technologies in gastrointestinal endoscopy have advanced greatly over the past few decades. Molecular imaging is an additional innovation to conventional imaging methods and allows visualization of the localization, function, and characteristics of target lesions, especially cancers. To realize endoscopic molecular imaging, there are three prerequisites : first, more target-specific and highly sensitive biomarkers for clinical use ; second, fluorochromes that have a high affinity for their markers and can produce a distinct signal ; and third, equipment to visualize the indicator at high resolution in real time. Endoscopic molecular imaging can be used for cancer screening and surveillance and can also provide important information for deciding treatment strategies and evaluating their effectiveness during therapy. Endoscopic molecular imaging will play a central role in gastrointestinal oncology in the near future.
