Biopsy forceps are useful for measuring esophageal varices in vitro

Table 3 Comparison of actual versus estimated varices size using a visual estimation method and open biopsy forceps method

	Actual size ≤ 5 mm (4 varices)	Actual size > 5 mm (7 varices)
Visual method
Size estimate ≤ 5 mm	176	129
Size estimate > 5 mm	32	235
Accuracy	84.62%	64.56%
Biopsy forceps
Size estimate ≤ 5 mm	183	77
Size estimate > 5 mm	25	287
Accuracy	87.98%	78.85%

Values are total number of measurements, including 11 simulated varices by 52 endoscopists. Overall accuracy = 71.85% using visual method (accurate measurements shown in bold).Overall accuracy = 82.17% using biopsy forceps method (accurate measurements shown in bold).