INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH A REAL-TIME VIDEO PROCESSOR FOR ENHANCING ENDOSCOPIC IMAGE-CONTRAST

Background: An initial experience using a digital video processor to e nhance contrast in endoscopic images in real-time is described. Method s: Endoscopic images were examined with a system using locally adaptiv e processing to balance variations in illumination and sharpen fine fe atures in real-time. For comparison, indigo carmine dye, a popular exo genous contrast agent, was applied to one patient. Results: In general , contrast-enhanced images appeared to contain more mucosal detail, wi th reduced glare and features in shadowed areas revealed. When used in conjunction with indigo carmine, the enlarged crypt openings in an ab errant crypt focus were visible, the first such detection in vivo with out the use of magnifying endoscopy. Conclusions: Real-time video cont rast enhancement during endoscopic procedures appears to provide excel lent mucosal detail and improve contrast in a clinically useful manner .