The Future of Gastroenterology: How NBI is Transforming Diagnosis and Treatment
Not only does every organ of the body need nutrients, minerals, vitamins, proteins, water, etc. to function, but the larger part of the body’s immune system dwells in the digestive tract. This is why having a healthy digestive system is vital for overall well-being. Diagnosing and treating any problems it may have is the Gastroenterologist’s job.
What the Gastroenterologist Needs to See is in Order
The digestive system includes the mouth, the pharynx, the oesophagus, the stomach, the small intestines, the large intestines, and their associated organs. Together, they function to break down the food, digest it to absorb nutrients from it into the body, and excrete the unnecessary parts as waste. The Gastroenterologist looks for problems, if any, in this perfect system of functioning before going forward with deciding on courses of treatment. Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) is a revolutionary imaging technology available in the field of Gastroenterology that can help him or her in the optical diagnosis process.
Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) in a Nutshell
Endoscopy, by way of inserting cameras through minimally intrusive procedures, has long been the way forward in allowing doctors to look inside the human body. NBI, with its specialised imaging technology, has set new standards in the field of Endoscopy. This innovative technique involves the use of specific blue and green wavelengths of light to study the maximum contrast of their absorption by Haemoglobin. This enhances the visual feed from the mucosal surface, which can then be used to improve the chances of anomaly and lesion detection to a significantly greater extent than when an older imaging technique is employed in a Colonoscopy or an Upper Endoscopy.
The Huge Role of NBI in Cancer Screening
The benefits of optical diagnosis through NBI for cancer screening and lesion detection in the digestive tract are significant. For example, Adenoma Detection Rate is a crucial quality assurance measure in a Colonoscopy, and NBI is extremely effective in detecting Adenomas to prevent or diagnose Colorectal Cancer. NBI similarly plays a big role in the screening of Oral Cancers.
Given the rapid advancement of the Science of Medicine, and the huge strides forward taken by the NBI technique in Endoscopy, we can clearly see that the future of Gastroenterology is already here, and how!