Narrow-Band Imaging Pattern: A Promising Radiologic Aid in Potentially Malignant Lesions and Oral Cancer

Abstract

Dear Editor, This letter addresses recent updates about narrow-band imaging pattern as a promising radiologic aid in potentially malignant lesions and oral cancer. The narrow-band imaging pattern uses the principle of depth of penetration of light, with the narrow-band blue light having a short wavelength (415 nm) penetrating into the mucosa and highlighting the superficial vasculature.[1] A prospective study comparing narrow-band imaging and autofluorescence imaging for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma detection was done between May 2010 and October 2010 in 50 consecutive patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal tumor in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China, and it was found that narrow-band imaging is superior to autofluorescence imaging in diagnostic specificity.[2] Enhanced contact endoscopy diagnostic modalities such as narrow-band imaging coupled with Storz professional image enhancement system are used for the assessment of the neoangiogenetic changes (appearing as subepithelial and epithelial microvascular irregularities) in potentially malignant and malignant lesions of the oral cavity.[3] More recently, Tirelli et al. come up with proposed classification for narrow-band imaging pattern with three epithelial types (1, 2a, and 2b), and it may serve as a guide to differentiate normal mucosa from malignant lesions and possibly reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.[4] More multidisciplinary and collaborative research in narrow-band imaging pattern as a promising radiologic aid in potentially malignant lesions and oral cancer is anticipated in the future.