Status of confocal laser endomicroscopy in gastrointestinal disease.
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Date
2012-01
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Abstract
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an advanced imaging technique which combines
conventional white light endoscopy (WLE) with an integrated or probe based confocal
microscope. This allows microscopic examination of the surface epithelium and in vivo
diagnosis during endoscopy. Established CLE applications include the diagnosis of Barrett’s
oesophagus, gastric intestinal metaplasia, coeliac disease and microscopic colitis. CLE can
differentiate hyperplastic from adenomatous polyps in the colon and may obviate the need to
biopsy all polyps at endoscopy. CLE is particularly helpful in surveillance endoscopy in
inflammatory bowel disease where it has been shown to reduce the number of biopsies required
and improve the detection of dysplasia. The future of CLE may be with new contrast agents
to allow for molecular tagging and improved endoscopic diagnoses. The aim of this review is
to describe the technology and techniques involved in CLE, and discuss the evolving
applications in obtaining “virtual biopsy” throughout the GI tract.
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Keywords
Confocal, endomicroscopy, endoscopy, inflammatory bowel disease, Barrett’s oesophagus, gastric intestinal metaplasia, gastric cancer, surveillance
Citation
Humphris Jeremy, Swartz David, Egan Brian J, Leong Rupert W L. Status of confocal laser endomicroscopy in gastrointestinal disease. Tropical Gastroenterology. 2012 Jan-Mar; 33(1): 9-20.