In vivo characterization of abnormalities in small-bowel diseases using probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy^[1]

Abstract

Background and study aims Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) enables real-time optical biopsy. Little is known about pCLE imaging deep inside the small bowel, therefore the aim of this study was to determine its usefulness.

Patients and methods Between April 2014 and January 2016, we performed 38 pCLE examinations during double-balloon enteroscopy with intravenous fluorescein in 37 patients with: tumors (n = 10), vascular disorders (n = 6), inflammatory diseases and drug injuries (n = 13), other disorders (n = 4), and normal findings (n = 4). We measured the calibers of capillary and lymphatic vessels at 15 different sites and compared the calibers between pCLE images and histopathology. We also compared pCLE findings with pathologic diagnosis.

Results The inner diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium and in the middle of villi were 16.2 ± 3.0 µm and 14.5 ± 3.1 µm, respectively, in the pCLE images, but these were not consistent with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded histology. In tumors, larger capillary vessels were observed in aggressive malignant lymphoma and metastasis, and a “soccer ball-like pattern” constituting homogenous dark cells packed with polygonal, narrower capillary vessels was characteristic in pCLE images of a malignant lymphoma follicle. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and angiodysplasia contained anastomosis of capillary vessels of different calibers. In IgA vasculitis, segmental capillary strictures were observed. Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy contained a reticular network of lymphatic vessels and dilated lymphatic ducts accompanied by numerous cell gaps. pCLE findings corresponded to pathologic diagnosis in 32 examinations (91 %).

Conclusions pCLE is useful for in vivo analysis of abnormalities of the capillary and lymphatic vessels and epithelium, and for diagnosis in various small-bowel diseases.

Study registration: UMIN 000013857

Introduction

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is a novel endoscopic imaging technique that provides in vivo histology during ongoing endoscopy. Two CLE systems have been developed for the gastrointestinal tract: an endoscope-integrated system and a probe-based system; however, the endoscope-integrated system is inaccessible deep within the small bowel and is no longer commercially available. The probe-based system was developed by Mauna Kea Technologies (Cellvizio; Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris, France) [1]. This miniprobe can be introduced through the working channel of any endoscope to visualize the tissue at a microscopic level at the same time as the macroscopic imaging [2]. Furthermore, the GastroFlex UHD and Coloflex UHD probes are 3 m and 4 m long, respectively, and therefore they can be used during balloon-assisted enteroscopy. To our knowledge, little is known about the application of CLE in small-bowel diseases [3]. These miniprobes provide a resolution of up to 1 µm after the administration of fluorescent contrast, depth of focus between 55 and 65 µm, and a fast video-rate scanning of 12 images per second. CLE may enable more live images than conventional pathology.

In this study, we determined the roles of probe-based CLE (pCLE) during double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for the detection of abnormalities and the diagnosis of various small-bowel diseases.

Methods

Study design

This was a retrospective single-center observational open-label pilot study. We measured the calibers of capillary and lymphatic vessels between pCLE images and histopathology, and determined the vessel characteristics in various small-bowel diseases. Next, we retrospectively compared the pCLE findings with pathological findings, and determined their concordance rate. This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Fujita University School of Medicine. This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN 000013857).

Double-balloon enteroscopy and probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy

DBE (Fujifilm Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was performed as described previously [4] [5]. pCLE examinations were performed with a Coloflex UHD or a Gastroflex UHD probe through the working channel (2.8 mm or 3.2 mm diameter) of an enteroscope (EN-450 T or 580 T) after intravenous injection of 250 – 500 mg fluorescein (100 mg/mL, Fluorescite, Alcon Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan).

Measurement of the capillary and lymphatic vessel calibers and interpretation of other images

Fluorescein-enhanced capillary vessels were classified into two types: capillary vessels beneath the epithelial cells and in the middle of the villi. The calibers of these two vessels at five different sites were estimated at three locations on one capillary vessel in one image with “measure object dimension” software in the Cellvizio viewer (Mauna Kea Technologies). In brief, the reader placed a cursor at one end of the fluorescein-enhanced vessel and then moved the cursor to the other end of the shortest dimension at right angles to the duct axis, which indicated the intraluminal diameter of the vessel. If the caliber varied in diameter, the reader measured both the shortest and longest diameters ([Fig. 1a]). Lymphatic vessels were designated as a reticular network of unenhanced dark branching bands, and their calibers were estimated as above ([Fig. 1b]). Other image interpretations included cell gap, erosion, fluorescence enhancement of lamina propria, and dark tumor cells.

Fig. 1 Measurement of the inner diameters of the capillary and lymphatic vessels (Patient #30: intestinal lymphangiectasia in the ileum). a Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image of the capillary vessels. b Immunohistochemical staining with CD34 antibodies in a biopsy specimen with a magnification of × 400. c Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image of lymphatic vessels. d Immunohistochemical staining with D2-40 antibodies in a biopsy specimen with a magnification of × 200.

Histologic analysis and comparison of the inner diameters of capillary vessels between pCLE and histology

Biopsy specimens from DBE were fixed with 10 % neutral buffered formalin, and paraffin-embedded sections were reviewed histologically by pathologists who were blinded to this study. Specific pathologic findings included dilated lymphatic lacteals in the lamina propria that were immunopositive with a monoclonal antibody against D2-40 (Dako, Tokyo, Japan) in intestinal lymphangiectasia; lymphoma cells that were immunopositive with monoclonal antibodies against CD20, CD10, bcl-2, and cyclinD1 (Dako), and crypt hyperplasia that was immunopositive with a monoclonal antibody Ki-67 (Dako) in villous atrophy.

In patients with dilated lymphatic lacteals that could be observed with pCLE, bioptic specimens were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against CD34 (Dako) and D2-40. The calibers of capillary vessels positive with CD34 at three different sites and lymphatic vessels positive with D2-40 at two different sites were measured with a point-to-point distance measuring function (Provis AX-80 optical microscope and DP20 digital camera, Olympus Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and then were compared with those in the pCLE images.

Statistical analysis

The values presented in the text are expressed as means ± standard deviation. Comparisons between lesions (n = 15 in each patient) and normal controls (n = 60 in four controls) were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparisons of the calibers of capillary vessels positive with CD34 and lymphatic vessels positive with D2-40 between immunostained bioptic specimens and pCLE images were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Differences were considered statistically significant for P values less than 0.05.

Results

Patients

In total, 130 patients were admitted to Fujita Health University Hospital to undergo DBE between April 2014 and January 2016. Informed consent was obtained from 37 patients who underwent probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE, Cellvizio; Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris, France) during DBE. The 37 patients underwent a total of 38 DBE and pCLE examinations; 24 via the oral route and 14 via the anal route using Coloflex UHD (n = 16) and Gastroflex UHD (n = 22) probes. Patient #2 with follicular lymphoma underwent a second anal DBE examination 16 months after the first anal DBE examination, and rituximab monotherapy. Patient #29 had villous atrophy and crypt apoptosis throughout the small intestine, and a few CD3-positive intraepithelial lymphocytes (5 – 10/100 epithelial cells). She was negative with anti-gliadin, anti-tissue transglutaminase, or anti-endomysial antibody. At colonoscopy, there were only several erosions in the rectum, but pathologically accompanied by a 25 µm thick subepithelial collagen band. Her symptoms recovered and endoscopic findings improved with discontinuation of clonazepam, not with a gluten-free diet. Therefore, we diagnosed her as having clonazepam-induced intestinal injury.

Double-balloon enteroscopy was often in a torqued position, when advancing the probe through the working channel was difficult. In this case, we first put the top-down and/or left-right angle knobs to the neutral position. If impossible, we then withdrew the scope a little to loosen the scope angle. Clinical characteristics are presented in  [Table 1]. The median number (range) of biopsy specimens at DBE in 31 patients was 4 (2 – 10). One polypectomy specimen, one endoscopic mucosal resection specimen, and one surgical specimen were taken from Patients #10, #11, and #33, respectively. All authors had access to the study data, and reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Table 1 Clinical features in 37 patients who underwent probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy during double-balloon enteroscopy.

Patient number	Final diagnosis	Sex	Age, years	DBE route	Location of the lesions examined	Indications
Small-bowel tumors/polyps
1	Malignant lymphoma (mantle cell lymphoma)	M	82	Oral	Jejunum	Asymptomatic (Check-up)
2	Malignant lymphoma (follicular lymphoma)	F	65	Anal	Ileum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
3	Malignant lymphoma (follicular lymphoma)	F	56	Anal	Ileum	Asymptomatic (Check-up)
4	Malignant lymphoma (DLBCL transformed from follicular lymphoma)	F	57	Oral	Jejunum	Abdominal pain
5	Malignant lymphoma (DLBCL transformed from follicular lymphoma)	F	55	Anal	Ileum	Diarrhea
6	Malignant lymphoma (DLBCL)	M	78	Anal	Ileum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
7	Malignant lymphoma (Burkitt lymphoma)[1]	F	66	Oral	Jejunum	Small-bowel obstruction
8	Adenocarcinoma at an advanced stage	M	41	Oral	Jejunum	Small-bowel obstruction
9	Metastasis from cervical cancer	F	62	Oral	Ligament of Treitz	Small-bowel obstruction
10	Peutz-Jeghers syndrome	F	52	Oral	Jejunum	Asymptomatic (Follow-up)
Vascular diseases
11	Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia	M	73	Anal	Ileum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
12	Angiodysplasia	F	74	Oral	Jejunum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
13	IgA vasculitis	M	70	Oral	Jejunum	Overt small-bowel bleeding and abdominal pain
14	Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis	M	55	Anal	Ileum	Diarrhea
15	Ischemic stricturing enteritis	F	80	Anal	Ileum	Overt small-bowel bleeding and small-bowel obstruction
16	Ischemic stricturing enteritis	F	64	Oral	Jejunum	Small-bowel obstruction
Inflammatory diseases
17	Crohn’s disease	M	22	Oral	Jejunum	Small-bowel obstruction
18	Crohn’s disease	F	51	Oral	Ileum	Small-bowel obstruction
19	Crohn’s disease	M	31	Anal	Ileum	Small-bowel obstruction
20	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	F	55	Oral	Ileum	Small-bowel obstruction
21	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	F	39	Oral	Ileum	Small-bowel obstruction
22	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	F	48	Oral	Jejunum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
23	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	F	42	Oral	Jejunum	Protein-losing enteropathy
24	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	F	39	Anal	Ileum	Protein-losing enteropathy
25	Hypogammaglobulinemia-associated atrophic enteritis with malabsorption syndrome	M	50	Oral	Jejunum	Diarrhea
Iatrogenic diseases
26	Aspirin-induced small-intestinal injury	F	73	Anal	Ileum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
27	Diclofenac-induced small-intestinal injury	M	53	Oral	Duodenum-jejunum	Overt small-bowel bleeding
28	Loxoprofen-induced small-intestinal injury	F	88	Oral	Jejunum	Small-bowel obstruction
29	Clonazepam-induced small-intestinal injury with protein-losing enteropathy	F	54	Oral	Jejunum	Diarrhea
Other small-bowel diseases
30	Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy	F	42	Anal	Ileum	Protein-losing enteropathy
31	Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy	M	66	Oral	Jejunum	Protein-losing enteropathy
32	Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy	M	71	Oral	Jejunum	Protein-losing enteropathy
33	Meckel’s diverticulum	M	27	Anal	Ileum	Overt small-bowel bleeding
Normal small bowel
34	Colonic diverticular hemorrhage	M	71	Oral	Jejunum	Overt small-bowel bleeding
35	Suspected Crohn’s disease	M	26	Anal	Ileum	Right lower quadrant pain
36	Hypogammaglobulinemia	M	36	Oral	Jejunum	Occult small-bowel bleeding
37	Abdominal pain	M	36	Oral	Jejunum	Abdominal pain

DBE, double-balloon enteroscopy; DLBCL, diffuse large B cell lymphoma; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

¹ Complete remission by chemotherapy and complicated by cytomegalovirus infection-associated small-intestinal ulcers.

Measurement of the inner diameter of capillary vessels and capillary characteristics at pCLE

The inner diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium and in the middle of the villi are shown in  [Table 2]. In four patients with an apparently normal small bowel with normal bioptic histology, the diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium and in the middle of the villi (60 portions of capillary vessels each) were 16.2 ± 3.0 µm and 14.5 ± 3.1 µm, respectively (P = 0.0009). Comparison between four normal controls and the inner diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium or in the middle of the villi is shown in  [Table 2].

Table 2 Inner diameters of the capillary vessels at probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy.

		Inner diameters of the capillary vessels
		Beneath the epithelium			In the middle of the villi
Patient number	Final diagnosis	Mean ± SD, mm	Compared with four controls	P value	Mean ± SD, mm	Compared with four controls	P value
Small-bowel tumors/polyps
1	Malignant lymphoma (mantle cell lymphoma)	13.6 ± 5.5	n.s.		12.9 ± 1.7	Smaller	0.0420
2	Malignant lymphoma (follicular lymphoma)	10.3 ± 2.2	Smaller	< 0.0001	12.3 ± 4.1	Smaller	0.0279
3	Malignant lymphoma (follicular lymphoma)	12.4 ± 2.4	Smaller	< 0.0001	11.1 ± 4.4	Smaller	0.0055
4	Malignant lymphoma (DLBCL transformed from follicular lymphoma)	n.d.			23.7 ± 11.0	Larger	0.0004
5	Malignant lymphoma (DLBCL transformed from follicular lymphoma)	15.0 ± 3.2	n.s.		21.9 ± 6.9	Larger	< 0.0001
6	Malignant lymphoma (DLBCL)	13.7 ± 3.6	Smaller	0.0148	25.2 ± 8.0	Larger	< 0.0001
7	Malignant lymphoma (Burkitt lymphoma)[1]	18.3 ± 5.0	n.s.		24.6 ± 5.6	Larger	< 0.0001
8	Adenocarcinoma at an advanced stage	n.d.			26.0 ± 10.1	Larger	< 0.0001
9	Metastasis from cervical cancer	17.4 ± 5.7	n.s.		31.0 ± 14.9	Larger	< 0.0001
10	Peutz-Jeghers syndrome	15.5 ± 3.8	n.s.		18.2 ± 4.6	Larger	0.0040
Vascular diseases
11	Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia	17.3 ± 5.3	n.s.		26.0 ± 12.9	Larger	< 0.0001
12	Angiodysplasia	21.7 ± 4.5	Larger	< 0.0001	13.4 ± 9.7	n.s.
13	IgA vasculitis	12.3 ± 5.1	Smaller	0.0098	11.5 ± 3.1	Smaller	0.0040
14	Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis	15.2 ± 2.4	n.s.		15.9 ± 6.9	n.s.
15	Ischemic stricturing enteritis	19.3 ± 3.2	Larger	0.0007	18.1 ± 5.1	Larger	0.0165
16	Ischemic stricturing enteritis	16.1 ± 2.3	n.s.		24.0 ± 7.4	Larger	< 0.0001
Inflammatory diseases
17	Crohn’s disease	13.3 ± 2.6	Smaller	0.0012	14.7 ± 2.9	n.s.
18	Crohn’s disease	10.9 ± 2.1	Smaller	< 0.0001	13.6 ± 4.2	n.s.
19	Crohn’s disease	13.9 ± 2.7	Smaller	0.0078	16.1 ± 6.4	n.s.
20	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	15.8 ± 3.3	n.s.		16.8 ± 4.5	n.s.
21	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	12.4 ± 4.9	Smaller	0.0024	14.7 ± 4.4	n.s.
22	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	13.1 ± 3.9	Smaller	0.0053	14.9 ± 5.8	n.s.
23	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	12.3 ± 2.9	Smaller	< 0.0001	16.0 ± 5.3	n.s.
24	Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs	13.5 ± 2.6	Smaller	0.0020	13.3 ± 3.2	n.s.
25	Hypogammaglobulinemia-associated atrophic enteritis with malabsorption syndrome	10.9 ± 2.5	Smaller	< 0.0001	14.0 ± 2.8	n.s.
Iatrogenic diseases
26	Aspirin-induced small-intestinal injury	17.1 ± 3.8	n.s.		13.4 ± 2.2	n.s.
27	Diclofenac-induced small-intestinal injury	17.3 ± 3.1	n.s.		17.6 ± 4.5	Larger	0.0082
28	Loxoprofen-induced small-intestinal injury	12.7 ± 2.3	Smaller	0.0001	15.1 ± 4.6	n.s.
29	Clonazepam-induced small-intestinal injury with protein-losing enteropathy	15.0 ± 4.2	n.s.		17.4 ± 3.8	Larger	0.0100
Other small-bowel diseases
30	Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy	14.0 ± 3.2	Smaller	0.0073	15.9 ± 4.0	n.s.
31	Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy	14.4 ± 5.1	Smaller	0.0168	19.8 ± 9.9	n.s.
32	Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy	17.4 ± 2.0	n.s.		20.1 ± 8.0	Larger	0.0075
33	Meckel’s diverticulum	16.6 ± 3.2	n.s.		19.8 ± 6.2	Larger	0.0011
Normal small bowel (controls)
34	Colonic diverticular hemorrhage	16.3 ± 1.6			13.4 ± 1.7
35	Suspected Crohn’s disease	13.0 ± 3.0			12.8 ± 2.6
36	Hypogammaglobulinemia	17.7 ± 2.1			16.5 ± 2.4
37	Abdominal pain	17.8 ± 2.7			15.1 ± 4.1

DLBCL, diffuse large B cell lymphoma; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; SD, standard deviation; n.s., not significant; n.d., not detected.

Throughout mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, or in follicles adjacent to circumferential ulcers of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a “soccer ball-like pattern” was characteristic, with homogenous dark cells suggesting that lymphoma cells (7 – 10 µm in diameter in small-cell lymphoma and 10 – 20 µm in diameter in large-cell lymphoma) were packed with polygonal, slightly narrow and stretched capillary vessels ([Fig. 2a–d] and  [Fig. 3a, b]). In lymphoid follicles with complete remission status, homogenous lymphoid-like cells were observed but not packed with those characteristic capillary vessels ([Fig. 3c, d]). In metastasis from cervical cancer, irregular dark nests suggesting metastatic squamous cell carcinoma were observed in the lamina propria, accompanied by markedly dilated capillary vessels suggesting tumor vessels ([Fig. 4a–c]). In a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), dilated crooked capillary vessels were observed, and, notably, these vessels communicated with remarkably dilated vessels (30 – 40 µm in diameter) in the middle of the villi, suggesting a micro-arteriovenous malformation ([Fig. 5a–d]). In a solitary angiodysplasia, various sizes of dilated proliferating capillary vessels appeared, anastomosing more frequently than normal ( [Fig. 5e, f]). In IgA vasculitis (formerly Henoch-Shöenlein purpura), multiple stenosing capillary vessels, like “a string of sausages”, were observed around the ulcers, which may lead to ischemic changes ([Fig. 6a–c]).

Fig. 2 Mantle cell lymphoma (Patient #1). a Enteroscopic view in the jejunum. b A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image shows the homogenous cells packed with polygonal capillary vessels in a “soccer ball-like pattern. c H&E staining in a biopsy specimen with a magnification of × 200. d Immunohistochemical staining with CD20 antibodies in a biopsy specimen with a magnification of × 200.

Fig. 3 Follicular lymphoma (Patient #2). a Enteroscopic view in the ileum before treatment. b A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image shows the homogenous cells packed with polygonal capillary vessels in a “soccer ball-like pattern”. c Enteroscopic view in the ileum after rituximab monotherapy. Slightly reddish follicles are observed. d A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image does not show a “soccer ball-like pattern” after rituximab monotherapy.

Fig. 4 Metastasis from cervical cancer (Patient #9). a Chromoenteroscopic view with indigo carmine after intravascular administration of fluorescein in the ligament of Treitz. b A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image shows dark irregular tumor nests accompanied by dilated tortuous capillary vessels. c H&E staining in a biopsy specimen with a magnification of × 100. d H&E staining in a biopsy specimen with a magnification of × 400.

Fig. 5 Arteriovenous malformation. a Enteroscopic view of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in the ileum (Patient #11). b A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image shows a micro-arteriovenous malformation. c H&E staining in an endoscopic mucosal resection specimen observed in a and b with a magnification of × 200. d H&E staining in an endoscopic mucosal resection specimen observed in a and b with a magnification of × 400. e Enteroscopic view of a solitary angiodysplasia in the jejunum (Patient #12). f A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image shows a micro-arteriovenous malformation.

Fig. 6 IgA vasculitis (Patient #13). a Enteroscopic view in the jejunum. b A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image. Arrows indicate segmental strictures of a capillary vessel, similar to “a string of sausages”. c H&E staining in a biopsy specimen shows leukocytoclastic vasculitis with a magnification of × 400.

Measurement of the inner diameter of lymphatic vessels and lymphatic characteristics with pCLE

Lymphatic vessels were observed in only five patients (17 %). In non-white type intestinal lymphangiectasias (Patients #24 and #26), CNSU (Patients #16 and #18), and metastasis from cervical cancer (Patient #5), their inner diameters were 8.1 ± 1.5 µm, 5.2 ± 1.3 µm, 4.8 ± 1.0 µm, 10.2 ± 1.8 µm, and 6.8 ± 1.3 µm, respectively.

In non-white type intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy, a reticular network of thin dark branching bands was observed beneath the epithelium, and remarkably dilated unenhanced dark ducts deep in the mucosa, accompanied by fluorescence enhancement of lamina propria and numerous cell gaps ([Fig. 7a–e]).

Fig. 7 Intestinal lymphangiectasia, non-white type with protein-losing enteropathy (Patient #30). a Enteroscopic view with small round villi in the ileum. b A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image on the surface of the villus with unenhanced lymphatic vessels. c A probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopic image deep in the mucosal layer with an unenhanced lymphatic duct. d Immunohistochemical staining with D2-40 antibodies in a biopsy specimen. Magnification × 200. e Immunohistochemical staining with D2-40 antibodies in a biopsy specimen. Magnification × 400.

Preliminary comparison of the inner diameters of capillary vessels and lymphatic vessels between pCLE and histology

In patients #9, #21, #23, and #30, the inner diameters of capillary vessels were 17.21 ± 3.21, 11.40 ± 4.19, 4.72 ± 2.67, and 7.47 ± 1.56 µm, respectively, in bioptic specimens immunostained with CD34, which were different from those both beneath the epithelium and in the middle of villi in pCLE images (24.2 ± 13.1 µm, P = 0.01932, 13.5 ± 4.7 µm, P = 0.1824, 14.2 ± 4.6 µm, P < 0.0001, 14.0 ± 3.2 µm, P < 0.0001). Both the inner diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium and in the middle of villi were counted up in pCLE images because their distinction was difficult in specimens that were immunostained with CD34.

In patients #9, #21, #23, and #30, the inner diameters of lymphatic vessels were 15.1 ± 5.5, 24.7 ± 10.4, 10.2 ± 11.9, and 27.1 ± 17.0 µm, respectively, in bioptic specimens immunostained with D2-40, which were significantly different from those in pCLE images (6.8 ± 1.3 µm, P = 0.0157, 4.8 ± 1.0 µm, P = 0.0005, 10.2 ± 1.8 µm, P = 0.5852, and 8.1 ± 1.5 µm, P = 0.0005).

Epithelial and other pCLE findings

In Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a fluorescence-enhanced serrated homogenous epithelium was observed. In ischemic enteritis, numerous cell gaps were observed near the longitudinal ulcers and slightly dilated capillary vessels were frequently observed. Patients #17 – 19 with Crohn’s disease showed numerous cell gaps and fluorescence enhancement of the lamina propria. In chronic nonspecific multiple small-intestinal ulcers unrelated to NSAIDs (CNSU), narrow, angulated, and partly stenosing capillary vessels of various sizes were observed accompanied by numerous cell gaps and fluorescence enhancement of the lamina propria. In hypogammaglobulinemia-associated atrophic enteritis with malabsorption syndrome, villous atrophy and the base of the crypts appeared as roundish glands resembling healthy colonic daisy crypts. In diclofenac-induced small-bowel injury, fluorescence enhancement of the lamina propria and numerous cell gaps were observed, while they were much less frequently observed in aspirin-induced small-bowel injury. In clonazepam-induced enteropathy with protein-losing enteropathy, villous atrophy and the base of the crypts appeared as roundish glands resembling colonic daisy crypts.

Comparison of pCLE findings with pathological diagnosis

Of 35 pCLE examinations in 34 patients from whom biopsies, polypectomy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and surgical specimens were taken, pCLE findings in 32 (91 %) corresponded to pathologic diagnosis. The three inconsistent cases were patients #7, #32, and #33. In patient #7 with Burkitt lymphoma, complete remission was achieved by chemotherapy and no lymphoma cells were observed pathologically, but pCLE images showed homogenous tumor-like cells with dilated capillary vessels, which were presumably inflammatory cells caused by complicating cytomegalovirus infection. In patient #32 with intestinal lymphangiectasia and with protein-losing enteropathy, lymphatic vessels were seldom observed with pCLE examination because they were predominantly subserosal lymphangiectasia type. In patient #33 with Meckel’s diverticulum, an aberrant gastric mucosa was observed pathologically, but was not observed with pCLE examination.

Adverse events

There were no complications associated with DBE, pCLE, and intravenous injection of fluorescein including bleeding, perforation, aspiration pneumonia, pancreatitis, and anaphylaxis.

Discussion

As shown in the present study, CLE was able to visualize in detail the capillary and lymphatic vessels and the subsurface architecture of the mucosa in real time [6], which was not possible with ordinary formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. The present preliminary comparison between immunostaining with CD34 antibodies and pCLE suggested shrinkage of capillary vessels caused by the interruption of blood flow with endoscopic biopsy or resection. In comparisons between immunostaining with D2-40 antibodies and pCLE, however, histology showed that the inner diameters of the lymphatic vessels were larger than in the pCLE images, presumably because the lymphatic vessels were not shrunk immediately by the interruption of lymph flow, and/or because deep mucosal lymphatic vessels were being measured. Therefore, pCLE is a valuable tool for examining in vivo capillary and lymphatic changes in various pathologies.

In malignant lymphoma, aggressive lymphomas, such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma, showed larger irregular capillary vessels than indolent B cell lymphomas, such as follicular lymphoma. Metastasis from cervical cancer also showed this, as shown in [Fig. 4]. Santi et al. demonstrated that the microvascular calibers of resected specimens were significantly larger in submucosally invasive esophageal cancer than in intramucosal cancer [7]. Deb et al. reported that histological grades of brain tumors positively correlated with microvessel calibers in surgical specimens [8]. In tumors, irregular dilated capillary vessels may be indicative of the malignancy grade. We have also proposed a “soccer ball-like pattern” constituting homogenous dark cells packed with polygonal, slightly narrow and stretched capillary vessels, which was characterized by a pCLE image of a malignant lymphoma follicle. This characteristic pattern might be indicative of endoscopic assessment after treatment.

In vascular diseases, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and solitary angiodysplasia showed numerous anastomoses of different calibers of capillary vessels. Meining et al. showed that the former version of pCLE detected a dilated sidled blood vessel with moving erythrocytes in real time, but not anastomosis due to poor resolution in gastric angiodysplasia [9]. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate in vivo blood vessel anastomosis in intestinal vascular malformation. In small-bowel ulcers associated with IgA vasculitis, “a string of sausages” pattern characterized by segmental stenosis of capillary vessels was observed, possibly leading to ischemic changes. Patient #13 was easily diagnosed as having IgA vasculitis because he had the complication of prior purpura in his legs. Abdominal symptoms, however, can precede the onset of the characteristic purpuric rash in 14 – 36 % of patients [10]. In such cases, pCLE may be useful for diagnosing vasculitis-associated ulceration because leukocytoclastic vasculitis is considered pathologically difficult to detect [11]. Chronic non-specific multiple ulcers of the small intestine (CNSU) is a rare entity characterized by long-standing protein-losing enteropathy and iron-deficiency anemia from occult bleeding, reported chiefly in Japan, and recently published as an autosomal recessive inherited enteropathy caused by mutations in the SLCO2A1 gene, encoding a prostaglandin transporter [12] [13] [14] [15]. The present study found the distinctive angulated stenosis of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium of the villi and cell gaps (data not shown), which may lead to the pathogenesis of multiple ulceration and protein loss.

Another notable finding of the present study was in vivo visualization of lymphatic vessels in small-bowel pathology. In intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy, lymphatic blockage can occur at different sites, and lymphangiectasia can be present in the lamina propria only, whereas marked dilation of the lymphatics can occur in the subserosa and mesentery, with minimal changes in the lamina propria [16]. We proposed a classification of intestinal lymphangiectasia into white villi type (the former lamina propria dominant type) and non-white villi type (the latter deeper layer dominant type) according to the enteroscopic findings, which clustered its manifestations and severity. Enteroscopically, the non-white villi type showed that apparently normal, but under more detailed observation, low and round villi with a normal color, were diffused [17]. In two of three patients with non-white villi type intestinal lymphangiectasia, pCLE was able to detect lymphangiectasia, while detection did not occur in the remaining patient who was diagnosed only by autopsy, showing predominantly subserosal lymphangiectasia accompanied by marked fibrosis in the submucosal layer (data not shown). In all three patients, numerous cell gaps were also detected by pCLE, probably leading to protein-losing enteropathy.

In inflammatory diseases, including Crohn’s disease and CNSU, interestingly, the inner diameters of capillary vessels beneath the epithelium were smaller. Kiesslich et al. found increased epithelial gaps and fluorescein leakage in the small intestine of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, which was associated with subsequent relapse [18]. In this study, the same pCLE findings were observed depending on the enteroscopic findings. Narrowing of capillary vessels beneath the epithelial cells observed in this study might be ascribed to fluorescein leakage in the lamina propria and out of the epithelium.

Taken together, this in vivo histologic imaging has several clinical advantages over biopsy samples followed by a conventional pathology processes, including fixation, paraffin embedding, and staining steps: 1) to obtain live microscopic images, especially of capillary and lymphatic vessels, 2) to obtain real-time microscopic images of endoscopically ambiguous non-apparent lesions without time loss [19], 3) to obtain the functional properties including vascular permeability and cell shedding of fluorescence, 4) to benefit patients on antithrombotics, with bleeding tendencies, or with a condition for which taking pathological samples is contraindicated or not recommended, and 5) to obtain molecular imaging with administration of fluorescence-conjugated antibodies [20].

This study has some limitations, i. e. a small sample size and retrospective approach. Further larger-scale and prospective studies are needed to clarify the reliability of the above mentioned pCLE findings for diagnosing various small-bowel diseases. If our ongoing optical histologic findings are corroborated, it will help with rapid diagnosis and therapy selection. In conclusion, pCLE is safe and useful for the analysis of abnormalities of capillary and lymphatic vessels and the epithelium in various small-bowel diseases.

Competing interests

The authors report no potential conflicts of interest.

¹ A poster including part of this material was presented at the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (DDW 2015 Washington D.C.) on 18 May 2015.

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