Letters To The Editor
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2012; 18(41): 6003-6004
Published online Nov 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i41.6003
Upper oesophageal images and Z-line detection with 2 different small-bowel capsule systems
Anastasios Koulaouzidis
Anastasios Koulaouzidis, Endoscopy Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH10 4QU, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Koulaouzidis A wrote the paper, analysed data and revised.
Correspondence to: Dr. Anastasios Koulaouzidis, MD, MRCP, FEBG, Endoscopy Unit, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH10 4QU, United Kingdom. akoulaouzidis@hotmail.com
Telephone: +44-131-2421126 Fax: +44-131-2421618
Received: June 16, 2012
Revised: August 21, 2012
Accepted: August 25, 2012
Published online: November 7, 2012
Abstract

Transmission of oesophageal images may vary between different small-bowel capsule endoscopy models. A retrospective review of 100 examinations performed with 2 different Small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) systems (PillCam® and MiroCam®) was performed. The oral cavity/aero-digestive tract (i.e., tongue, uvula and/or epiglottis) was captured/identified in almost all (99%) of PillCam® videos but in none of MiroCam® cases, P < 0.0001. Furthermore, oesophageal images (i.e., from the upper oesophageal sphincter to the Z-line were captured in 99% of PillCam® videos (mean ± SD, 60.5 ± 334.1 frames, range: 0-3329 frames) and in 66% of MiroCam® cases (mean ± SD, 11.1 ± 46.5 frames, range: 0-382 frames), P < 0.0001. The Z-line was identified in 42% of PillCam® videos and 17% of MiroCam®, P = 0.0002. This information might be useful when performing SBCE in patients with high risks for aspiration.

Keywords: Capsule endoscopy, PillCam, MiroCam, Oesophagus, Aspiration, Detection, Z line, Transmission