Panendoscopy with Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy – A Feasibility Study

Introduction Pandendoscopy using white light endoscopy with biopsy is the current standard for the diagnosis of suspicious lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract. In recent years, numerous optical methods have been examined for their applicability and diagnostic value. What all the current methods have in common is that the detection of changes in the acquired image information, be it in the case of tumor detection in the early stages or for the precise determination of tumor boundaries, is dependent on the examiner. Automation in the assessment of optical data is therefore necessary. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an optical instrument that could enable a „in vivo“ histology, since the resolution of CLE corresponds to conventional histological examinations.