Evaluation of Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy as a Screening Tool for Barrett's Esophagus in the Primary Care Setting

Evaluation of Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy as a Screening Tool for Barrett's Esophagus in the Primary Care Setting

Evaluation of Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy as a Screening Tool for Barrett's Esophagus in the Primary Care Setting

The investigators will conduct a large study in the primary care clinic to determine the feasibility of using tethered capsule endomicroscopy as a screening method for Barrett's esophagus (BE) in the primary care practice environment. The investigators are also determining the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in a primary care practice cohort at MGH.

The investigators have developed a tethered capsule OCT device intended as an inexpensive screening tool for BE. The capsule, which is attached to a thin, flexible tether, is reusable after being processed by a standard disinfection technique. Used without sedation, the capsule is swallowed by the participant and travels in the esophagus to the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) via peristalsis. Cross-sectional microscopic OCT images of the entire esophagus are collected during transit. The total time needed for swallowing, imaging and retrieval does not exceed 10 minutes, with a total of 30 minutes for the procedure. The investigators have tested the feasibility and the tolerability of this new OCT screening technology in 250 procedures in healthy volunteers and patients with various esophageal diseases including BE. The procedure has been safe and well tolerated. High quality microscopic images of the esophagus have been obtained in 90% of the enrolled subjects.

OCT, Optical Coherence Tomography, Endomicroscopy, Capsule Endomicroscopy, Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy, TCE

Feasibility of using tethered capsule endomicroscopy as a screening method for Barrett's esophagus in the primary care practice environment Determine the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in a primary care practice cohort at MGH

Participants will be asked to swallow the TCE device. Participants may use mild numbing spray, and lubrication spray to help swallowing. Imaging will be conducted once the TCE device is past the pharynx. The TCE device will be advanced until the stomach and then slowly pull the TCE back up the esophagus. This may be repeated twice.

The study team will ask the participant about their comfort level throughout the procedure. Participants will be asked to score the tolerability of the procedure using a scoring system from 0-10. 0= the least tolerable, 10= the most tolerable. The title of the scale is Subject Tolerability Questionnaire.

During the single study visit (avg 30.mins), and before leaving, the participant will fill out the tolerability survey

The PI will identify signs of Barrett's esophagus from the imaging data. This is a qualitative assessment performed by the PI, as this imaging technique is to novel to have standard quality grading.

Inclusion Criteria: Subjects registered as patients at the Assembly Row primary care practice. 18 years or older Able to give informed consent Subject must have no food for 1 hour before the procedure Exclusion Criteria: Subjects older than 75 years. Subjects with current symptoms of dysphagia Subjects with gastro-intestinal strictures with a diameter less than 8mm, prior GI surgery (Esophageal and/or stomach surgeries), or history of intestinal Crohn's disease Pregnancy Patients scheduled for an urgent care visit for the following symptoms: fever, sore throat, upper respiratory infection symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or other symptoms as per clinical staff discretion.