title: Advances in Endoscopic Visualization of Barrett's Esophagus: The Role of Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy.
abstract: Many endoscopic imaging modalities have been developed and introduced into clinical practice to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of upper endoscopy. In the past, detection of dysplasia and carcinoma of esophagus had been dependent on biopsies taken during standard white-light endoscopy (WLE). Recently high-resolution (HR) endoscopy enables us to visualize esophageal mucosa but resolution for glandular structures and cells is still low. Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a new promising diagnostic technique by which details of glandular and vascular structures of mucosal layer can be observed. However, the clinical utility of this new diagnostic tool has not yet been fully explored in a clinical setting. In this paper we will highlight this new technique for detection of esophageal dysplasia and carcinoma from a clinical practice perspective.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopy Unit, Nuovo Ospedale Civile S. Agostino Estense, Via Giardini 1355, Baggiovara, 41126 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pigò
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dabizzi
authors.forename: Marzio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frazzoni
authors.forename: Vincenzo Giorgio
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Mirante
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conigliaro