Linked color imaging for the detection and treatment of serrated colon neoplasia: current status and future perspective.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of global cancer-related mortality, with serrated colon neoplasia (SCN) accounting for 20%-30% of cases. SCN exhibits distinct clinicopathological and molecular features, whose superficial and pale appearance poses challenges for endoscopic detection. Linked Color Imaging (LCI) significantly improves lesion detection by enhancing color contrast through narrowband preprocessing and post-processing augmentation, demonstrating superior performance in large-lumen examinations. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the clinicopathological and molecular profiles of SCN, elaborates on the technical advantages of LCI over conventional imaging modalities, and highlights its diagnostic utility in SCN screening. Furthermore, we explore the innovative integration of LCI with artificial intelligence for real-time lesion recognition and with biomedical nanomaterials for targeted therapy, proposing a promising "detection-treatment" paradigm that may transform early CRC management.