DIAGNOSTIC AIDS IN ESOPHAGEAL AND GASTRIC DISORDERS
HIGH-RESOLUTION MANOMETRY AND IMPEDANCE
MEASUREMENT
Stationary esophageal manometry as a measure of esophageal motility has been in use for over 50 years. Although it has become essential for disorders such as achalasia, its accuracy and reliability have been questioned for several reasons: (1) Only a small number of unidirectional pressure transducers can be used for recording. (2) Due to a relatively short catheter length, areas of the esophagus must be analyzed during different time periods by pulling the manometric catheter through the various esophageal segments. (3) There is only a measure of pressure and not of corresponding bolus transit. With the advent of highresolution impedance manometry, these limitations have been overcome. This results from the design of a catheter that can measure pressures with 36 transducers, including circumferential transducers. This catheter also spans the length of the esophagus for simultaneous measurement of both the upper and lower esophageal sphincters and the esophageal body that allows the study of simultaneous esophageal parameters. Complete esophageal motor function may be measured in response to stimuli, such as swallowing, with far greater accuracy and ease. Bolus transit can be measured, also simultaneously, by transducers that measure impedance. This functions on the principle of Ohm’s law that Voltage (V) = Current (I)/Resistance (R). Within the catheter, voltage is generated between adjacent electrodes and the generated current is a function of the resistance or impedance to current flow. When an electrolyterich fluid passes over the electrodes, the current is easily conducted due to the low resistance and high conductivity of this fluid, and therefore measured impedance to current will be low. If one measures impedance over a series of electrodes that span the transesophageal catheter, one can measure the direction and velocity of the movement of an administered bolus. Thus, giving a water swallow as part of the standard protocol for performing highresolution manometry will assess not only the esophageal body and sphincter pressure dynamics but also the water flow that occurs with these pressure changes. Measurement of impedance will distinguish different types of substance in the esophagus by their conductive properties.
A catheter that independently
measures esophageal impedance may also be used for diagnosis in disorders such
as gastroesophageal reflux. When such a catheter is made ambulatory and is
combined with pH recording, a continual measurement of bolus movement and pH
can be made over relatively long periods of time out of the hospital. An
ambulatory pH/impedance catheter can measure all fluid that refluxes into the
esophagus in addition to the degree of acidity. This test currently serves as
the gold standard for diagnosis of either acid or nonacid gastroesophageal
reflux. This test may be performed with all therapies suspended to establish a
baseline degree of gastroesophageal reflux, or with therapy continuing to
determine if persisting symptoms are due to inadequate reflux therapy or
another cause.
NARROW BAND IMAGING
Although endoscopy has
revolutionized the practice of medicine, it is confined by its ability to
recognize lesions that appear abnormal only through white light inspection. It
is limited in visualization of more subtle but important mucosal abnormalities
such as dysplasia. One of the major ongoing refinements of standard endoscopy
is using enhanced imaging techniques to visualize mucosal patterns in greater
detail. Narrow band imaging (NBI) is a technique in which a filter is used in
the endoscope to enhance light wavelengths for blue and green. These
colors are used to enhance visualization of blood vessels through uptake of
these wavelengths by hemoglobin. With more detailed imaging of changes in
mucosal vascularity and mucosal patterns around these vessels, there is greater
accuracy in differentiating hyperplasia from dysplasia as well as different
grades of dysplasia and cancer. Studies have shown that in premalignant
conditions such as Barrett esophagus, use of NBI improves the diagnostic
capability of endoscopy and allows for targeted biopsies of suspicious lesions
seen with NBI but not white light endoscopy.
CONFOCAL LASER ENDOMICROSCOPY
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE)
is a probebased technique in which the application of a laser blue light to
the mucosal epithelium yields an image that is nearly as precise as a histologic
image. The probe is passed through the endoscope and embedded in areas of
suspected mucosal abnormalities. A dye is used to high light cellular
structures such as the nuclei or cytoplasm, depending on the dye used. Evolving
technology, known as volumetric laser endomicroscopy, is focusing on a means of
broader mucosal imaging rather than pointdirected visualization. Similar to
NBI, the goal of CLE is to give further detail on cellular and tissue morphology,
particularly in detecting dysplasia.
