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 vasular 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.