Endoscopy is a modality that enables the screening, surveillance, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases and disorders. From diagnosis through to intervention, gastrointestinal endoscopy is an exciting field that continues to evolve rapidly as clinicians and the general population seek evermore efficient and less-invasive ways to manage health and disease. This Focus Issue on Endoscopy contains five specially commissioned Review articles on hot topics within the field that provide a critical analysis of the available literature. New endoscopic imaging techniques and opportunities are discussed in addition to advancements in the field of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. The endoscopic management of Barrett esophagus and benign biliary obstruction is reviewed as are both basic principles of, and novel techniques for, colonoscopy.
An NPG library of relevant articles is also provided.
Review
New imaging techniques and opportunities in endoscopy
Ralf Kiesslich, Martin Goetz, Arthur Hoffman & Peter Robert Galle
doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.152
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 8, 547-553 (2011)
The field of gastrointestinal endoscopy is undergoing some major advances. Numerous new endoscopic imaging techniques are now available. In this Review, the authors discuss the latest imaging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize endoscopic diagnosis and highlight the technical advances in the detection, characterization and confirmation of gastrointestinal disease.
Colonoscopy: basic principles and novel techniques
Yark Hazewinkel & Evelien Dekker
doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.141
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 8, 554-564 (2011)
Colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that allows the entire colon to be examined, enabling both the detection and removal of premalignant lesions and colorectal tumors. Hazewinkel and Dekker provide an overview of standard colonoscopy procedures and describe the latest technical advances. They stress the importance of a minimal set of quality indicators to continuously monitor and optimize colonoscopic examinations.
Critical analysis of hot topics in NOTES
Mouen A. Khashab & Anthony N. Kalloo
doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.150
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 8, 565-572 (2011)
Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has gained a great deal of attention since its introduction in 2000, and has opened up a realm of new endoscopic techniques, innovative endoscopic instruments, and pioneering treatment modalities. The field of NOTES has advanced tremendously and exciting and well-designed research has been reported. In this article, Khashab and Kalloo review recently published data, and provide their thoughts about how the field is progressing and what the next steps for NOTES should be.
Benign biliary strictures: current endoscopic management
Sergio Zepeda-Gómez & Todd H. Baron
doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.154
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 8, 573-581 (2011)
This article by Zepeda-Gómez and Baron discusses the principles of endoscopic therapy for benign biliary strictures, different endoscopic approaches and their respective outcomes, and varied etiologies and their appropriate management. Data on newer therapies, such as the placement of self-expandable metal stents, and the treatment of biliary–enteric anastomotic strictures is also discussed.
Endoscopic management of Barrett esophagus
Aparna Repaka & Amitabh Chak
doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.151
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 8, 582-591 (2011)
Over the past few decades, tremendous advances have been made in endoscopic technology, and the management of dysplasia and early cancer in Barrett esophagus has changed radically from being surgical to organ-sparing endoscopic therapy. Repaka and Chak discuss the vital role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, screening, surveillance and management of patients with Barrett esophagus.
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