Published online Sep 16, 2024. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v16.i9.540
Revised: August 22, 2024
Accepted: August 28, 2024
Published online: September 16, 2024
Processing time: 182 Days and 8.9 Hours
Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a novel endoscopic modality that provides real-time histological information via high-resolution magnified view of the mucosa. CLE has a higher sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in detecting atrophic gastritis as compared to chromoendoscopy and narrow-band imaging. It can even predict low-grade and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia by analyzing gastric pit patterns. CLE may have some advantages over the standard biopsy protocol, such as higher diagnostic yield and fewer biopsy requirements. Its diagnostic accuracy in detecting superficial gastric cancer is higher than that of white-light endoscopy. Inherent limitations, such as a narrow field of vision, can be surpassed by technological advancements and integration with other detection methods. Artificial intelligence holds promise in automated analysis of histopathological images. Thus, CLE can be helpful in screening for early gastric cancer and may help reduce the risk of complications from repeated biopsies, such as mucosal damage, bleeding, and infection.
Core Tip: Confocal laser endomicroscopy is a new imaging technique used during endoscopy procedures to evaluate the mucosa in vivo. Diagnosing and monitoring early cancer in the upper gastrointestinal tract can be effectively achieved through the use of this tool. Minimizing the number of biopsies required is one of the main benefits of this technology, while still maintaining a high diagnostic sensitivity rate. This helps to reduce the risk of complications, such as mucosal damage, bleeding, and infection, that may be caused by repeated biopsies.