Trial Information

In Vivo Confocal Endomicroscopy of the Brain

Confocal endomicroscopy is a medical imaging modality that allows real-time microscopy to be
performed on living tissue in vivo. It is already in clinical use in the fields of
gastroenterological endoscopy, laparoscopy, dermatology, gynecology and respiratory
medicine. This study represents the first time that confocal endomicroscopy will be
evaluated for intraoperative imaging in neurosurgery.

The procedure involves a small endoscope which is placed gently into contact with the brain,
providing significant in vivo magnification on a scale similar to that obtained by the
pathology laboratory microscope. The captured confocal images will be compared with
corresponding histology (tissue that is being removed as part of the indicated neurosurgical
procedure). The images will be visually compared among each other and with histology images
to detect possible clinically relevant information.