Progress and Challenges of Global High-Resolution Endoscopy

Abstract

In recent years, gastrointestinal endoscopy has seen an influx of high-resolution endoscopic technologies that are capable of providing optical biopsies of the epithelial surface in real time. Upcoming high-resolution endoscopy techniques are CLE, OCT, EC and HRME. Powered by automated diagnostic algorithms and more-cost effective alternatives, these high-resolution endoscopic technologies have the potential to not only facilitate real-time decision making, but also improve screening and surveillance of gastrointestinal cancers globally. This review discusses the most promising upcoming optical biopsy technologies and their clinical applications, along with the current trends, challenges and future directions.

Deep-learning-based image super-resolution of an end-expandable optical fiber probe for application in esophageal cancer diagnostics

“…Screening and early detection of ESCC are critically important to help reduce the incidence and mortality associated with EC. However, challenges posed by the extensive surface area of the esophagus, the limited field-of-view (FOV) offered by conventional microendoscopic screening probes (100 to 1000 μm), 3 – 5 and the time constraints of endoscopic procedures (6 to 8 min per patient) necessitate the development of an innovative approach to enable imaging of larger fields and improve diagnostic yield.…”

“…In recent years, in-vivo optical microscopy techniques, such as confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) and high-resolution microendoscopy (HRME), have been applied to visualize the nuclear morphology of the esophageal epithelium and assist in differentiating neoplasia from benign tissue. 3 , 5 – 7 In contrast to conventional tissue biopsies and histopathologic analysis, these optical techniques are non-invasive and able to provide real-time results. However, microendoscopy is currently limited by its small FOV (the average diameter of a probe is 0.3 mm) that hinders it from imaging larger tissue areas.…”

Millimetre Waves in The Detection of Oral Cancer

“…In vivo microscopy (High-resolution micro-endoscopy, optical coherence tomography, confocal reflectance microscopy, multiphoton imaging, etc.) has good accuracy, but high costs limit its use 3 . Hence, we would like to stressthe useofnon-ionizingmillimeter waves (MmW) in dental clinics for chairsiderealtime 3-D imaging of oral cancer and precancerous lesions.…”