title: Confocal microscopy: imaging cervical precancerous lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explore the clinical potential of reflectance and fluorescence confocal microscopy to image the morphologic and biochemical changes associated with precancer, in order to aid in the detection and diagnosis of cervical dysplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical epithelial tissue samples imaged ex vivo or in vivo were obtained from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston, Texas. Confocal reflectance microscopy was used to image ex vivo cervical biopsies and in vivo cervical tissue. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to image ex vivo cervical tissue slices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present reflectance and fluorescence confocal images of cervical tissue demonstrating the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal cervical tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that there is significant clinical potential for confocal microscopy to provide a sensitive and specific method for cervical precancer detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, 1 University Station, C0800, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavlova
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Descour
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Follen
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richards-Kortum
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology