# Linked color imaging improves polyp miss rates in total colonoscopy in a multicenter randomized back to back trial

## TL;DR

Linked color imaging improves detection of colorectal polyps compared to traditional imaging during colonoscopies.

## Contribution

LCI reduces polyp miss rates, especially in specific colon regions and for small adenomas.

## Key findings

- LCI had a lower polyp miss rate (9.3%) compared to WLI (20.6%).
- LCI improved detection of diminutive adenomas (<5 mm) with a higher adenoma detection rate.
- LCI was more effective in the transverse, descending colons, and rectum.

## Abstract

Linked color imaging (LCI) was developed to detect gastrointestinal neoplasms. The current study aimed to determine whether the use of LCI, compared with white-light imaging (WLI), can improve the miss rates of colorectal polyp. A multicenter, randomized back-to-back study was conducted in 16 Japanese endoscopy units. Patients were randomized according to examination: tandem colonoscopy with WLI followed by LCI (WLI-LCI group) and with LCI followed by WLI (LCI-WLI group). The detected polyps were evaluated according to location, size, morphology, and histopathological diagnosis. The primary outcome was polyp miss rate per patient (PMR-PP) in total colonoscopy. The secondary outcome was adenoma detection rate (ADR) during the first assessment in each group. The full analysis set comprised 327 participants, and 320 were included in either two groups. The PMR-PPs were 9.3% and 20.6% in the LCI-WLI and WLI-LCI groups, respectively. Regarding location, the PMR-PP of LCI was significantly lower than that of WLI in the transverse and descending colons and rectum. In terms of diminutive adenomas (< 5 mm), the ADR of LCI (38.2%) was significantly higher than that of WLI (29.1%). LCI was superior to WLI in terms of polyp miss rate particularly in the transverse and descending colons and rectum.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-20633-2.