Probe-Based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in Gynecologic Surgical Oncology: Intraoperative Insights to Guide Surgical Resection
Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Cytoreductive surgery is the cornerstone of treatment, but frequently requires extensive surgical procedures. In vivo pCLE images and subsequent biopsies were acquired from various anatomical sites after injection of fluorescein. Each endomicroscopic sequence was analyzed by dedicated investigators highly experienced in pCLE imaging and compared with the histology of the corresponding specimen. Normal tissues exhibited uniform stromal fibers, consistent cellular architecture, and regular vascularization. In contrast, malignant nodules were identified by fluorescein leakage, reflecting abnormal vessel permeability and highlighting clusters of neoplastic cells. Preliminary data from our observations indicate a substantial concordance between pCLE findings and histology. pCLE is a promising intraoperative tool for real-time cellular analysis.