New endoscopic techniques: Challenges and opportunities for surgical pathologists

Abstract

In recent years, significant clinical and technological advances have been made in endoscopic methods for diagnosis and treatment of early gastrointestinal neoplasms. However, essential information related to these novel techniques and their implications for practicing surgical pathologists have largely been missing in the general pathology literature. This article provides a general introduction to these novel therapeutic and diagnostic methods, and discusses their indications, contraindications, and potential limitations. The article aims to enable surgical pathologists to interact more efficiently with basic scientists and clinical colleagues to help implement and improve the existing clinical methods and to advance the new technologies. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.