Optical biopsy techniques were recently introduced to luminal gastrointestinal endoscopy. These include confocal laser endomicroscopy, spectroscopic imaging techniques and endocytoscopy. Optical biopsy techniques allow on demand in vivo histology during ongoing endoscopy, thereby potentially accelerating clinical diagnosis and specific therapy. In the present review, we focus on endocytoscopy as one of the rapidly emerging optical biopsy techniques. We provide technical details of currently available endocytoscopy systems and give tips on their use in clinical practice. We also summarize applications of endocytoscopy for colorectal pathologies.
Keywords: advanced endoscopic imaging; endocytoscopy; endomicroscopy; endoscopy; ulcerative colitis.
© 2014 The Authors. Digestive Endoscopy © 2014 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.