Abstract

Cancer of the colon is the second leading cause of cancer related death in North America and Europe. Colonoscopy is currently the gold standard for the detection and removal of polyps and the diagnosis of cancer. Although a field of intense research, there are currently no surrogate serum or stool markers that accurately identify patients at risk who may have adenomatous colon polyps or curable cancer.

Clinicians therefore rely on white light colonoscopy to survey colonic mucosa in their search for polyps. White light endoscopy has some limitations. It cannot detect flat, non-raised lesions. It cannot distinguish easily between hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps. Subtle, flat lesions may be missed. Scars at the sites of previous sessile polyps are difficult to evaluate for recurrence.

Endoscopies utilizing fluorescence techniques either on the basis of intrinsic fluorescence or exogenous (prodrug) compounds, have the potential to compliment white light endoscopy by improving detection of mucosal dysplasia and ultimately improve outcomes for cancer detection before the date of escape from cure.

© 2001 OSA/SPIE