Image-enhanced capsule endoscopy based on the diagnosis of vascularity when using a new type of capsule

Background Small-bowel lesions responsible for obscure GI bleeding are often accompanied by vascular abnormalities. Image-enhanced capsule endoscopy could be advantageous in detecting these abnormalities. Objective To evaluate the image representation performance of the contrast capsule. Design Feasibility study. Setting University hospital. Patients and Interventions Consecutive patients with obscure GI bleeding swallowed the contrast capsule. Main Outcome Measurements Image representation performance of the contrast capsule and the appearance of small-bowel lesions in image-enhanced capsule endoscopy. Results Twenty patients (16 males and 4 females) underwent capsule endoscopy during the study period. Small-bowel abnormality was detected, including 5 cases of multiple erosions or ulcers, 1 case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and 1 case of angiectasia. The contrast capsule visualized the lesions with high vascularity in a dark green color with a strong color contrast compared with the surrounding normal mucosa, which appeared as a brownish color. Limitations Small, single-center, nonrandomized study. Conclusion This feasibility study demonstrated the image representation characteristics of the contrast capsule. The diagnostic yield of this technology should be investigated in a future randomized trial.