Soft palate findings associated with a high risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using an endoscopic system with enhanced depth-of-field imaging

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We previously reported that 3 endoscopic findings of melanosis, whitish epithelium, and vasodilation in the soft palate are associated with a high risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Conventional endoscopic systems require observation under magnification to evaluate vasodilation. This case series aims to present the evaluation of vasodilation without magnification using an endoscopic system with enhanced depth-of-field (EDOF) imaging. METHODS: We observed the soft palate of 3 patients with early ESCC using an endoscopic system with EDOF (GIF-EZ1500 and EVIS X1 CV-1500, Olympus Co, Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS: The patient in case 1 had marked melanosis, whitish epithelium, and vasodilation (focal type) in the soft palate. The patient in case 2 had melanosis and vasodilation (diffuse type) in the soft palate. The vasodilation in cases 1 and 2 could be evaluated sufficiently without magnification. The patient in case 3 had melanosis and whitish epithelium in the soft palate. The color tone of melanosis became sharpened using texture and color enhancement imaging. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic system with EDOF enabled us to evaluate all 3 soft palate findings associated with a high risk of ESCC, without magnification.