Endomicroscopy of Barrett's Esophagus

Endomicroscopy is a remarkable technical advance in gastrointestinal mucosa imaging. In 2003, Kiesslich and colleagues described the first human use of contrast-aided confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) as a novel technique for in vivo microscopic imaging of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Both probe-based and endoscope-based systems have been applied to many gastrointestinal disorders, including Barrett's esophagus (BE) and associated neoplasia. Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy can be used in conjunction with highresolution white light endoscopy and other contrast enhancement techniques. It has proven high accuracy for prediction of high-grade neoplasia and cancer. In vivo imaging of both flat BE and mucosal lesions can influence diagnosis and thereby impact upon decision making regarding tissue sampling and endoscopic therapy. This article discusses the scientific literature related to clinical use of CLE for BE, the techniques for performing CLE in the esophagus, and the potential future directions for CLE in BE and esophageal cancer diagnosis and treatment.