Confocal laser endomicroscopy is a newly introduced diagnostic technique that allows in vivo microscopic examination of the digestive mucosa during ongoing endoscopy. This technology allows real-time in vivo histology or “virtual biopsies” of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa and has been demonstrated to reveal in vivo histological information in a multitude of diseases during the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract endoscopic examination.

It has the capability to instantaneously diagnose intraepithelial neoplasia during endoscopy showing an enormous clinical utility in the surveillance or diagnosis of many diseases. As every recently introduced technology there are many aspects still to define about its use and potential in clinical practice. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• The use of confocal laser endomicroscopy in patients with Barrett's esophagus and gastric intestinal metaplasia and its influence on improving outcomes and surveillance efficiency
• Confocal laser endomicroscopy in inflammatory bowel diseases and impact on evaluation of disease activity and in early detection of dysplasia
• Characterization of colorectal polyps by confocal laser endomicroscopy: discrimination of adenomatous from nonadenomatous colorectal polyps and evaluation of degree of dysplasia during endoscopy
• The use of confocal laser endomicroscopy in followup of patients undergone to EMR or ESD and its influence on improving the detection of recurrence
• Improving management of pancreatic-biliary strictures by the use of confocal laser endomicroscopy

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