title: Real time intraoperative confocal laser microscopy-guided surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the potential utility of in vivo histologic surface and subsurface imaging in real-time using the Optiscan confocal laser microscope to detect diseased tissue at the time of surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The goal of surgical treatment of diseases such as cancer is complete microscopic resection of diseased tissue; however, current methods for the assessment of extent of disease at the time of surgery are inadequate.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the potential of the Optiscan confocal laser microscope, a new device developed for real-time in vivo histologic surface and subsurface imaging during surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intravenous Fluorescein Sodium contrast enabled visualization of cellular and architectural morphology of intra-abdominal organs with magnification equivalent to light microscopy and enabled differentiation between normal organs and disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Real time intraoperative confocal microscopy has significant potential application in detecting disease, and influencing decision-making at the time of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nam Q
authors.initials: NQ
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Andrew V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Biankin
authors.forename: Rupert W L
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Cosman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kench
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Merrett
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019793:Fluorescein; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019793:Fluorescein