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Confocal laser endomicroscopy in breast surgery: a pilot study.
Giovanni D De Palma1, Dario Esposito2, Gaetano Luglio3
1Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II. School of Medicine, Naples, Italy. giovanni.depalma@unina.it.
BMC Cancer
|April 18, 2015
Summary
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) shows distinct patterns in normal, benign, and malignant breast tissues. This pilot study explores CLE
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Pathology
Background:
- Breast neoplasms encompass a range of conditions from benign tumors to aggressive cancers.
- Traditional histology remains essential for definitive breast cancer diagnosis.
- Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE) offers in vivo histopathological imaging, previously used in gastrointestinal diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the basic morphological patterns of Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE) in normal breast tissue.
- To characterize CLE findings in benign breast lesions.
- To identify CLE features of malignant breast lesions.
Main Methods:
- A pilot feasibility study involving thirteen female patients with palpable breast nodules.
- CLE was performed post-resection using the Cellvizio® Endomicroscopy System with intravenous fluorescein.
- Dynamic images were captured from lesional and surrounding normal breast tissues.
Main Results:
- Histopathology confirmed benign lesions in 46% and breast cancer in 54% of patients.
- CLE revealed a honeycomb pattern in normal tissue, slit-like or lobular structures in benign lesions, and architectural subversion in malignant tumors.
- Specific CLE features were identified for ductal and mucinous carcinomas.
Conclusions:
- This is the inaugural pilot study assessing Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy for breast disease diagnosis.
- Further research is necessary to validate these findings.
- The clinical impact of CLE in breast diagnostics requires further investigation.
