NBI (Narrow Band Imaging) test is used by ENT specialists as part of early cancer prevention. Endoscopic examination with the use of NBI allows to detect even those changes that were previously invisible to a trained eye of a doctor or traditional diagnostic devices. When should the NBI test be performed?
NBI Study( Narrow Band Imaging ) is painless. Endoscopic examination with the use of NBI is widely used in gastroenterology, and recently also in ENT.
What is NBI research?
The NBI (Narrow Band Imaging) study takes advantage of the differences in the light-absorbing properties of the blood and the tissues surrounding the blood vessel. The he althy mucosa covering the upper respiratory tract is pink-red in color. Thanks to NBI, it is possible to assess its color and detect places with increased metabolism and excessive vascularization, which may indicate a neoplastic change. This examination allows for the early detection of even small changes, including those that are poorly visible with an ordinary examination. Early detection of inflammation or a neoplastic lesion is a greater chance for a faster and effective cure.
NBI research: indications
The aim of the tests is to detect abnormal changes preceding a tumor or asymptomatic disease. People at increased risk should undergo examinations with the use of an NBI endoscope. In the case of a positive test result, i.e. detection of abnormal blood vessels within the mucosa, the patients undergo detailed diagnostics. The importance of screening tests is invaluable as they allow the detection of cancer at a very early stage, which allows for quick treatment implementation and a chance for complete recovery.
- NBI is also helpful during surgical procedures, where tissue imaging with a narrow beam of light reliably indicates to the surgeon the border between he althy mucosa and neoplastic tissue. Thanks to this, it is possible to precisely remove the diseased tissue - said Prof. dr hab. med. Wiesław Konopka, from the Department of Otolaryngology, ICZMP in Łódź, consultant of the CM MML.
NBI research: preparation
The NBI test does not require any special preparation, but it should not be performed after eating, due to the possibility of a reflexemetic. The examination should be postponed to another date in the event of a cold or upper respiratory tract infection, because the altered mucosa may affect the examination results.
NBI test: mileage
The examination procedure is simple and the examination itself is non-invasive and painless. It consists in introducing an endoscope into the lumen of the upper respiratory tract, i.e. a flexible tube with a diameter of several millimeters, ending with a high-resolution camera, allowing for a detailed view of the inside of our body. During the examination, the tissues are additionally illuminated with a narrow beam of light - NBI - which allows for obtaining a highly contrasted image allowing for the differentiation and preliminary assessment of abnormalities.
As experts emphasize, early detection of neoplastic changes gives the patient a chance to completely cure the patient. That is why it is worth having an endoscopic examination with the use of NBI once a year.
Press materials