ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE DETECTION OF EARLY STAGE LUNG CANCER

Abstract

Endoscopic imaging techniques that have been developed for the early detection of bronchogenic carcinoma include auto fluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB), narrow band imaging (NBI), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE). Each of these modalitiescapitalizes on the light absorption properties of the tissues or blood vessels in attempts to identify features consistent with a pre-invasive carcinoma.AFB is based on the principle that dysplasia and carcinoma fluoresce red when exposed to blue light. NBI capitalizes on the light absorption properties of hemoglobin to highlight abnormal appearing vasculature. OCT uses optical light reflections of tissues to construct two and three dimensional images of the bronchial epithelium. Finally, pCLE allows visualization of sub epithelial structures by sectioning tissue based on its natural auto fluorescence. This reviewdiscusses these techniques in detail, providing the scientific background, practical application, and review of the literature.