Endocytoscopy: Endoscopic imaging techniques and tools

Abstract

Endocytoscopy is an optical technology based on the principle of light-microscopy. It allows the “in vivo” observation of superficial mucosal layer during endoscopic examination. Cytological and architectural characteristics are assessed in real-time to distinguish between normal and pathological mucosa. The atypia classification in order to predict histology of early-stage neoplasms has been the main application of endocytoscopy for years. More recently, some applications for benign diseases were reported. The probe-based systems have been progressively replaced by a new generation of prototypes that integrates the endocytoscopic facilities into an all-in-one endoscope, which allows a progressive zooming from standard endoscopy to endocytoscopy view.