Optical biopsy system distinguishing between hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps in the colon during colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND It has been established that the removal of adenomatous colon polyps drastically reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), but polypectomy is not without risk. The aim was to determine the correlation between the results of an optical biopsy system and the histopathology report of the physical biopsy specimens of the same polyps removed at colonoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Paired optical and physical biopsies were performed on 55 polyps with complete polypectomy of the same tissue. RESULTS Fifty-three adenomatous polyps and two hyperplastic polyps were identified by the hospital pathologist. The optical biopsy system identified 52 polyps as suspect (adenomatous) and 2 as non-suspect (hyperplastic). One villous adenoma could not be optically analyzed due to friability. CONCLUSION The WavSTAT Optical Biopsy System provides accurate information to the gastroenterologist to assist in distinguishing between hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps. It is safe for the patient and does not unduly increase the time required for an endoscopic examination.