Confocal laser endomicroscopy for non-invasive head and neck cancer imaging: a comprehensive review

Histological assessment is an essential tool in the diagnosis and guidance of the treatment of various diseases, in particular cancer, of the head and neck. Recent major advances in optical imaging techniques have made it possible to acquire high-resolution in vivo images at the cellular scale. Confocal endomicroscopy is a non-invasive technique, which can be highly useful whenever meaningful in situ histological information is required. The technical aspects of confocal endomicroscopy are introduced, followed by an overview of major clinical studies in the field of head and neck cancer. Ongoing technical developments, contributing to improvements in imaging of the upper aero-digestive tract, are also discussed. Finally, the potential complementarities of functional and molecular imaging, as compared to morphological endomicroscopy, are highlighted.