Application of lugol chromoendoscopy on the diagnosis of early esophageal cancer

Conventional esophago gastro duodenoscopy can disclose a lesion only when it presents as a protuberant mass, an ulceration or when there is significant discoloration. When an early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or dysplasia, frequently lacking such changes, is confronted, conventional endoscopy usually fails to detect it. Combination of endoscopy and mucosal staining, known as chromoendoscopy, deserves to be praised in the detection of early lesions aforementioned. Since the initial report of Lugol's solution on the diagnosis of esophageal cancer 30 years ago, more and more publications have agreed with its usefulness as an assistant tool in the diagnosis of early esophageal cancer. Examples of its benefits include improving surgical decision making, better screening of high risk patients and facilitating endoscopic mucosal resection. With the growing popularity of much more expensive modalities such as EUS, PET, EOCT and molecular genetic technology; this convenient and non-expensive technique is worth practicing by endoscopist.