Table 2.

Comparison of methods for Barrett’s oesophagus surveillance

Method	Description	S for SIM	S for HGD	Res	FOV	Depth (μm)	Cost	Time
Four quadrant biopsy	Random biopsy at 4 sites every 1–2 cm with jumbo forceps	++++	++	+	++++	∼1000	+++	+++
Chromoendoscopy	Standard surface view of oesophageal mucosa enhanced with stain or dye	++++	+/−	++	++++	None	+	++
High magnification endoscopy	Magnified surface view of oesophageal mucosa, may be enhanced by acetic acid	+++	+/−	+++	+	None	++	+++
Light induced fluorescence	Fluorescence from endogenous molecules	++	+/−	+	++++	∼200	+++	+++
Photodynamic diagnosis	Fluorescence from exogenous molecules	++	+/−	+	++++	∼200	+++	+++
Optical coherence tomography	Backscattered infrared light from cellular microstructures	++	+/−	+++	++	∼500	++++	++++
High frequency ultrasound	Backscattered acoustic waves from cellular microstructures	+	+/−	++	++	∼1000	+++	++++
Confocal microscopy	Miniature microscope that images with subcellular resolution in thick tissue	?	?	++++	+	∼500	++	++

S, Sensitivity; SIM, specialised intestinal metaplasia; HGD, high grade dysplasia; Res, image resolution; FOV, field of view.

?, unknown; +/−, inconclusive; +, low; ++, moderate; +++, high; ++++, very high.