Advances in Endoscopic Imaging and Diagnosis: Toward Molecular Imaging

Abstract

Molecular imaging has been formally defined as the detection, spatial localization, and quantification of specific molecular targets and events that form the basis of various pathologies. Cancer is the greatest target in the short-term tasks of molecular imaging, and molecular imaging is important in various aspects of tackling this target. As image-enhanced endoscopy, narrow-band imaging (NBI) can provide morphological data to show changes in the morphology of the target and is particularly useful for obtaining images of the mucous surface layer with enhanced microvascular structures. Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) allows observation of morphological changes in terms of fluorescence intensity. Ultrahigh-magnification endoscopy such as the microscopic or confocal method allows real-time observation and diagnosis of changes in cellular structure within the body. In contrast, endoscopic molecular imaging is a procedure by which changes in quality, in terms of fluorescence intensity, are observed, and which allows acquisition of higher-level information in a simple form. As for endoscopic molecular imaging, exploration of markers, development of probes, and adequate imaging devices are three keys to clinical application. Not only molecular biological findings but also points of contact with various engineering techniques are extremely important for making progress in molecular imaging. Cooperation among the medical, engineering, and industrial fields has been advocated. In addition, cooperation with the fields of pharmaceutical sciences and biology is also necessary.