Enhanced magnification endoscopy in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

In diseases such as Barrett's esophagus and celiac disease, the mucosal abnormality is patchy or irregular, highlighting the need for targeted biopsies. Enhanced magnification endoscopy is an effective, readily available method that can be used to assist in target biopsies and endoscopic diagnosis leading to an endoscopic classification system. The technique is not difficult and adds only an additional 5 to 10 minutes to a standard endoscopic procedure;however, most endoscopists never receive instruction in magnification endoscopy during their training. The value of this technique is still being explored, but the improvement in diagnostic accuracy will have an impact on decreasing morbidity and mortality without a large increase in cost. Increased use of this technique will aid in the diagnosis of celiac disease and simplify the classification system for Barrett's esophagus. Using enhanced magnification endoscopy at multiple centers in studies will help to determine the intra- and inter-observer variability, define the endoscopic criteria for dysplasia and early neoplastic changes, and standardize the visualized mucosal patterns more clearly.