Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy as a method for assessing endometriosis: A pilot study

Fernanda Okita, Marina Paula Andres, Renata de Almeida Coudry, Luiza Gama Coelho Riccio, Edmund Chada Baracat, Maurício Simões Abrão
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology · 2024 · vol. 302 , pp. 225–231 · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.09.025 · PMID:39306913 · W4402638299
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This pilot study explored the use of confocal laser endomicroscopy for assessing endometriosis, evaluating its feasibility and diagnostic potential in a small group of patients.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To validate probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (pCLE) as a method in assessing endometriosis during conventional and robot-assisted laparoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Pilot study, including five women in Hospital Moriah, São Paulo, Brazil. During laparoscopic procedures, pCLE was used to assess endometriosis lesions, complemented by subsequent histological evaluations. 214 optical biopsies were performed. These assessments contributed to the development of a comparative atlas, which was used by surgeons to respond to a questionnaire to identify specific cellular structures related to endometriosis in selected confocal images. RESULTS: The patients had an average age of 35, exhibiting predominant symptoms like dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. Despite varied familiarity with pCLE, surgeons demonstrated positive acceptance of the method, with 63.1% recommending its use for intraoperative diagnosis. The technique was particularly noted for its ability to provide real-time, detailed images aiding the identification of endometriosis and associated structures like adipocytes and vascularization, with average evaluation scores exceeding 8 of 10. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores pCLE's potential as a transformative diagnostic tool in minimally invasive gynecological surgery. It highlights the feasibility and initial acceptance among surgeons, emphasizing the need for further improvements in device durability and cost-effectiveness. pCLE promises significant advancements in the diagnosis and management of endometriosis, suggesting a future direction for clinical applications and technological refinement.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Laparoscopy Laparoscopy Laparoscopy Laparoscopy Laparoscopy

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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