Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2013; 19(43): 7544-7551
Published online Nov 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i43.7544
Beyond white light endoscopy: The role of optical biopsy in inflammatory bowel disease
Julia Liu, Aldona Dlugosz, Helmut Neumann
Julia Liu, Division of Gastroenterology, the Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2X8, Canada
Aldona Dlugosz, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Helmut Neumann, Department of Medicine 1, Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Author contributions: Liu J wrote the abstract, introduction, clinical applications for disease relapse and research applications sections; Dlugosz A wrote the section on dysplasia detection in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); Neumann H wrote the sections on the technical aspects of optical biopsy and assessment of inflammation in IBD.
Supported by Dr. Julia Liu is a recipient of the Canadian Institute of Health Research New Investigator Salary Award, and funding support from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada; Dr. Aldona Dlugosz is a recipient of the Postdoctoral Fellowship from Stockholm County Council and funding support from the Karolinska Institute Funds; Dr. Helmut Neumann is a recipient of the 2013 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Cook Medical Don Wilson Award, this work was done during the award period
Correspondence to: Julia Liu, MD, MSc, Division of Gastroenterology, the Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research, University of Alberta, 1-10 Zeidler Ledcor Centre, Alberta T6G 2X8, Canada. julia.liu@ualberta.ca
Telephone: +1-780-4927062 Fax: +1-780-4927115
Received: August 7, 2013
Revised: October 8, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: November 21, 2013
Processing time: 133 Days and 8.7 Hours
Abstract

In this review, we will discuss the use of two optical biopsy modalities in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The two techniques reviewed here are confocal laser endomicroscopy and endocytoscopy. We will describe the technical performance of the procedure, discuss the clinical indications for optical biopsy in IBD, and highlight active research areas with respect to the pathogenesis of IBD. Clinical indications for optical biopsies in IBD include assessment of mucosal inflammation, dysplasia detection and evaluation of cell shedding for disease relapse. Research application in the area of barrier dysfunction will also be discussed.

Keywords: Optical biopsy; Confocal endomicroscopy; Endocytoscopy; Dysplasia; Mucosal inflammation; Disease relapse; Mucosal healing; Barrier function

Core tip: This is a review of the latest advances in the applications of optical biopsy (either with confocal laser endomicroscopy of endocytoscopy) in inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical indications including assessment of mucosal inflammation, detection of dysplasia and predictors for disease relapse are discussed in detail. Novel research use of optical biopsy for functional mucosal assessment is also discussed.