|
1
|
Ongaro L, Rossin G, Biasatti A, Pacini M, Rizzo M, Traunero F, Piasentin A, Perotti A, Trombetta C, Bartoletti R, Zucchi A, Simonato A, Pavan N, Liguori G, Claps F. Fluorescence Confocal Microscopy in Urological Malignancies: Current Applications and Future Perspectives. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2301. [PMID: 38137902 PMCID: PMC10744992 DOI: 10.3390/life13122301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) represents a novel diagnostic technique able to provide real-time histological images from non-fixed specimens. As a consequence of its recent developments, FCM is gaining growing popularity in urological practice. Nevertheless, evidence is still sparse, and, at the moment, its applications are heterogeneous. We performed a narrative review of the current literature on this topic. Papers were selected from the Pubmed, Embase, and Medline archives. We focused on FCM applications in prostate cancer (PCa), urothelial carcinoma (UC), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Articles investigating both office and intraoperative settings were included. The review of the literature showed that FCM displays promising accuracy as compared to conventional histopathology. These results represent significant steps along the path of FCM's formal validation as an innovative ready-to-use diagnostic support in urological practice. Instant access to a reliable histological evaluation may indeed significantly influence physicians' decision-making process. In this regard, FCM addresses this still unmet clinical need and introduces intriguing perspectives into future diagnostic pathways. Further studies are required to thoroughly assess the whole potential of this technique.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ongaro
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Giulio Rossin
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Arianna Biasatti
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Matteo Pacini
- Urology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.P.); (A.P.); (R.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Michele Rizzo
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Fabio Traunero
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Andrea Piasentin
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Alessandro Perotti
- Urology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.P.); (A.P.); (R.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Carlo Trombetta
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Riccardo Bartoletti
- Urology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.P.); (A.P.); (R.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Alessandro Zucchi
- Urology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.P.); (A.P.); (R.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Alchiede Simonato
- Urology Clinic, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.S.); (N.P.)
| | - Nicola Pavan
- Urology Clinic, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.S.); (N.P.)
| | - Giovanni Liguori
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
| | - Francesco Claps
- Urological Clinic, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (L.O.); (G.R.); (A.B.); (M.R.); (F.T.); (A.P.); (C.T.); (G.L.)
- Urology Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.P.); (A.P.); (R.B.); (A.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|