Editorial
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2007; 13(18): 2523-2528
Published online May 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i18.2523
Magnifying chromoscopy, a novel and useful technique for colonoscopy in ulcerative colitis
Takafumi Ando, Hironao Takahashi, Osamu Watanabe, Osamu Maeda, Kazuhiro Ishiguro, Daisuke Ishikawa, Motofusa Hasegawa, Naoki Ohmiya, Yasumasa Niwa, Hidemi Goto
Takafumi Ando, Hironao Takahashi, Osamu Watanabe, Osamu Maeda, Kazuhiro Ishiguro, Daisuke Ishikawa, Motofusa Hasegawa, Naoki Ohmiya, Yasumasa Niwa, Hidemi Goto, Department of Gastroenterology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Takafumi Ando, Department of Gastroenterology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan. takafumia-gi@umin.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-52-7442144 Fax: +81-52-7442175
Received: April 11, 2007
Revised: April 14, 2007
Accepted: April 30, 2007
Published online: May 14, 2007
Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by exacerbations and remissions. The degree of inflammation as assessed by conventional colonoscopy is a reliable parameter of disease activity. However, even when conventional colonoscopy suggests remission and normal mucosal findings, microscopic abnormalities may persist, and relapse may occur later. Patients with long-standing, extensive ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer is characterized by an early age at onset, poorly differentiated tumor cells, mucinous carcinoma, and multiple lesions. Early detection of dysplasia and colitic cancer is thus a prerequisite for survival. A relatively new method, magnifying chromoscopy, is thought to be useful for the early detection and diagnosis of dysplasia and colitic cancer, as well as the prediction of relapse.

Keywords: Ulcerative colitis; Histopathology; Conventional colonoscopy; Magnifying colonoscopy; Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer