Original article
		
		
			Vol. 143 No. 1314 (2013)
		
		
			Perspectives  using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy of the respiratory tract
		
							
				
											- Jonas Yserbyt
 
											- Christophe Dooms
 
											- Vincent Ninane
 
											- Marc Decramer
 
											- Geert Verleden
 
									
			 
												
				
	
	
		
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				Cite this as:
			
 
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			Swiss Med Wkly. 2013;143:w13764
			
 
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					Published
				
 
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																24.03.2013
														
 
							
		
	 
				Summary
		QUESTIONS  UNDER STUDY/PRINCIPLES: Although probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy  (pCLE) is on the edge of entering daily practice in gastroenterological endoscopy,  findings in the field of respiratory medicine are only rarely reported, keeping  pCLE during flexible bronchoscopy as a mere preclinical research tool. Since the  endomicroscopic aspects of normal bronchial and alveolar tissue have recently been  described, we want to take part in the development of a pCLE glossary,  describing the pCLE features of pulmonary pathologies.
        METHODS: We  recruited among patients referred for diagnostic bronchoscopy for pCLE imaging.  Images from the central airways were obtained in every patient and alveoloscopy  was performed in at least five sub-segments per patient.
        RESULTS: Using  pCLE imaging, we were able to discriminate normal from abnormal endomicroscopical  patterns in four respiratory conditions. These findings were matched with  classical histopathology.
        CONCLUSION:  Reflecting on our own experience using pCLE imaging, we summarise the present state  of knowledge, discuss five clinical cases and discuss current limitations and the  future promise of this novel imaging tool.
         
        The study has been registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (number  http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01204970?term=NCT01204970&rank=1 )
	
				
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