Narrow-band imaging endoscopy is advantageous over conventional white light endoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of children with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Using narrow-band imaging (NBI), the micro morphology of polyp surfaces was visualized at high resolution when the contrast between the lesions and the surrounding tissue areas was intensified. The objective of the study was to compare NBI and conventional white light endoscopy (C-WLI) for diagnostic efficacy and treatment of children with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), a rare autosomal dominant-genetic disease. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 18 patients diagnosed with PJS and 72 diagnosed with juvenile polyps during the same time period. Endoscopy was used to observe the morphology of polyps, which were classified according to the Kudo pit pattern. Eighty-two and 76 polyps were resected using endoscopy from PJS and juvenile polyp patients, respectively, and pathologically examined for comparison with NBI or C-WLI endoscopic observations. With NBI, 57 (69.5%) type I, 10 (12.2%) type II, and 13 (15.9%) type III polyps were identified in 82 (100%) polyps excised from 18 PJS patients, whereas 69 (88.5%) type I, 5 (6.4%) type II and 4 (5.1%) type III were identified in 78 (100%) of polyps removed from 72 juvenile polyp patients. The combined ratios of types II and III were higher in PJS (28.1%) than in juvenile polyp patients (11.5%). Pathological diagnosis identified 69 of 82 PJS polyps as hamartoma and 13 as adenoma, whereas NBI detected 10 adenomas and C-WLI only 4. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of NBI in the diagnosis of adenoma were 76.9%, 97.1%, and 93.9%, respectively, whereas those of C-WLI were 30.8%, 94.2%, and 84.1%. NBI endoscopy had higher sensitivity and specificity than C-WLI for the diagnosis of adenomatous polyps and is recommended for the diagnosis, characterization, and resection of polyps in children with PJS.