title: Beyond white light endoscopy: the role of optical biopsy in inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: In this review, we will discuss the use of two optical biopsy modalities in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The two techniques reviewed here are confocal laser endomicroscopy and endocytoscopy. We will describe the technical performance of the procedure, discuss the clinical indications for optical biopsy in IBD, and highlight active research areas with respect to the pathogenesis of IBD. Clinical indications for optical biopsies in IBD include assessment of mucosal inflammation, dysplasia detection and evaluation of cell shedding for disease relapse. Research application in the area of barrier dysfunction will also be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Julia Liu, Division of Gastroenterology, the Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2X8, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Aldona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dlugosz
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D061848:Optical Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence
keywords: Barrier function; Confocal endomicroscopy; Disease relapse; Dysplasia; Endocytoscopy; Mucosal healing; Mucosal inflammation; Optical biopsy