Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy of the Human Airways in Diagnostics of Lung Transplantation

Bronchoscopy-guided tissue sampling is a central technique in many diseases including diagnosing and staging lung cancers, diagnosing interstitial lung diseases, and acute and/or chronic rejections following lung transplantation. Confocal fluorescence microscopy is a novel technique used for real-time microscopic imaging of proximal and distal airways, microvessels, and inflammatory cells. We hypothesize that confocal fluorescence microscopy images of airways and alveolar structures during standard bronchoscopy could help recognize and classify the presence or absence of acute or chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients.