Abstract
Probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is an optical imaging tool allowing live imaging of tissues at a cellular level. It remains experimental but its clinical value as a diagnostic/guiding tool is apparent. To address the lack of data in thoracic oncology and pleural diseases, we show the ability of pCLE during medical thoracoscopy to distinguish benign from malignant pleural involvement. See related Editorial
Highlights
Confocal laser endomicroscopy is an optical endoscopic imaging tool.[1]
To address the lack of data in thoracic oncology and pleural diseases, we show the ability of Probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) during medical thoracoscopy to distinguish benign from malignant pleural involvement
We have recently reported on three cases of pCLE during medical thoracoscopy with the first description of the parietal pleura during pCLE in a Respirology (2021) 26, 188–195
Summary
Confocal laser endomicroscopy is an optical endoscopic imaging tool.[1]. This technique allows live in vivo imaging of tissues at a cellular level with a video frame of 12 images per second. PCLE remains an experimental technique and data are scarce in pulmonary medicine and thoracic oncology.[2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9] As for pleural diseases, Zirlik et al showed that, compared to pleural fluid cytology, pCLE can detect malignant cells in pleural effusion with 87% sensitivity and 99% specificity.[9] Wijmans et al have recently published a prospective (n = 15) study assessing (p)CLE for guiding biopsies in the specific indication of suspected malignant pleural mesothelioma with different sampling methods. Conclusion: Benign and malignant pleural involvement have clearly distinct pCLE features
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