From the surface to the single cell: Novel endoscopic approaches in inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 3 Confocal laser endomicroscopy in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is based on the emission of a low power blue laser into the tissue after topical or systemic administration of contrast agents. The emitted light is then reflected from the tissue and refocused on the detection system by the same lens, leading to microscopic imaging at 1000-fold magnification in real time. As shown in healthy colonic mucosa in this picture, CLE allows a clear visualization of the colonic crypt architecture, single cells within the lamina propria and the microvasculature within the colon.