How to adjust endoscopic findings to histopathological findings of the stomach: a “histopathology-oriented” correspondence method helps to understand endoscopic findings

Background Endoscopic findings have now become nearly as detailed as histopathological findings. Thus, one-to-one correspondence and precise feedback of histopathological findings is very desirable but may be very difficult to accomplish. We describe a systematic process called the Kyoto One-to-One Correspondence Method (the KOTO Method) that allows detailed adjustments of endoscopic findings to match histopathological findings. Methods and results By comparing endoscopic and stereoscopic images of the gastric mucosa, we could obtain one-to-one correspondence between endoscopic images and equivalent histology in 44 of 47 fields. Conclusions The histological structure of gastric cancers of the same histological subtype may not be similar. One-to-one correspondence between endoscopic images and gastric mucosal histology (histopathology-oriented correspondence) will improve endoscopic diagnosis and provide more useful information for pathological diagnosis.