Chromoendoscopy With Indigo Carmine vs Virtual Chromoendoscopy (iSCAN 1) for Neoplasia Screening in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Randomized Study

Abstract

Introduction: The risk of colon cancer is greater in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in the general population. Chromoendoscopy with dye (CE) is the currently recommended method for detecting dysplasia in screening colonoscopies in IBD patients; however, the role of virtual chromoendoscopy (VC) is not yet well defined.

Objective: The object of this study was to compare CE and VC with the iSCAN 1 system in the detection of neoplastic lesions in IBD patients.

Design: We conducted a prospective, single-center, randomized study in IBD patients who underwent a colonoscopy for colon cancer screening. A total of 129 patients were included and were randomized to undergo a CE (n = 67) or a VC (n = 62). The rates of detection of neoplastic lesions by the 2 endoscopic techniques were compared.

Results: A total of 19 neoplastic lesions (9 adenomas and 10 low-grade dysplasias [LGD]) was detected in 16 patients, 12 lesions in the CE group (17.9%), and 7 lesions in the VC group (11.3%; P = 0.2); no differences were found in the overall rate of detection of lesions (neoplastic or nonneoplastic; P = 1). The median of the total examination time and endoscope withdrawal time (minutes) was significantly lower in the VC group than in the CE group (15 vs 20 and 10 vs 14, respectively; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: No differences occurred in the rate of detection of neoplastic lesions between CE and VC with iSCAN 1. The time spent on the technique with VC is significantly less than that with CE.

Keywords: chromoendoscopy; colorectal cancer screening; dysplasia; iSCAN; inflamatory bowel disease; virtual chromoendoscopy.