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Technology Insight: laser-scanning confocal microscopy and endocytoscopy for cellular observation of the gastrointestinal tract

Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 2, pages 31–37 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent advances in endoscopic imaging technology have enabled the visualization of early-stage cancer and its precursors in the gastrointestinal tract. Chromoendoscopy, magnifying endoscopy, endoscopic optical coherent tomography, spectroscopy, and various combinations of these technologies, are all important for the recognition of small and unclear lesions. To observe cancer cells in vivo, two types of ultra-high magnifying endoscope—'laser-scanning confocal endoscopy series' and 'contact endoscopy series'—that have a maximum of more than 1,000× magnifying power have been developed. These endoscopes can generate high-quality images of both living cancer cells and normal cells in the gastrointestinal tract, with a quality comparable to that possible with conventional cytology. These novel imaging technologies may make in vivo histological diagnosis by virtual histology possible.

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Figure 1: Images from the endomicroscopic examination of a case of T1 esophageal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma).
Figure 2: Images from the endocytoscopic examination of a case of T1 esophageal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive Disease Center,

    Haruhiro Inoue, Shin-ei Kudo & Akira Shiokawa

  2. Department of Pathology, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokahama, Japan

    Haruhiro Inoue, Shin-ei Kudo & Akira Shiokawa

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  1. Haruhiro Inoue
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  2. Shin-ei Kudo
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  3. Akira Shiokawa
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Correspondence to Haruhiro Inoue.

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Inoue, H., Kudo, Se. & Shiokawa, A. Technology Insight: laser-scanning confocal microscopy and endocytoscopy for cellular observation of the gastrointestinal tract. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2, 31–37 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep0072

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