Chromoendoscopy for Routine Colonoscopy

Chromoendoscopy is seldom used for routine colonoscopy. Randomized trials have demonstrated that this endoscopic method, which involves coating the colon with indigo carmine dye, improves detection of diminutive flat adenomas but not detection of the number of patients with adenomas or the detection of advanced lesions (e.g., JW Gastroenterol Apr 11 2006 and JW Gastroenterol Oct 1 2002). However, some studies were limited by sample size and were underpowered to identify differences in advanced lesion detection.

Now, in the largest randomized controlled trial of chromoendoscopy, 1008 patients (age, ≥45) who underwent complete colonoscopy for primary screening, surveillance, or diagnostic indications were randomized after cecal intubation to p…