Dysplastic mucosa at CLE with heptapeptide (VRPMPLQ).

<p>A series of VRPMPLQ/CLE images from different patients showing dysplastic colonocytes.The active binding of the peptide to the colonocytes is observed and determinates a strong increase in fluorescence.</p

Characteristics of excised lesions as resulted after histological evaluations.

<p>For Patient 3 and 7, two different lesions were collected and analyzed.</p

Dysplastic lesion.

<p>White-light endoscopic view showing a polypoid lesion (Is, Paris classification) of the transverse colon (A). After resection and coloration with the 100μ VRPMPLQ peptide solution, CLE shows active binding of the peptide to dysplastic colonocytes is observed. This along with passive accumulation of the peptide determines an increase in fluorescence (B). Conventional histology (haematoxylin/eosin, original magnification, X 106) showing low-grade dysplasia (C).</p

Non-dysplastic lesion.

<p>NBI-endoscopic view showing a polypoid lesion (Is, Paris classification) of the right colon (A). After resection and coloration with the 100μ VRPMPLQ peptide solution, CLE shows accumulation of the fluorescent peptide in the enlarged inter-crypt spaces and in the lumen crypts. Crypts are therefore highlighted in negative (B). Conventional histology (haematoxylin/eosin, original magnification, X 106) showing inflammatory psudopolyp (C).</p

Non-dysplastic mucosa at CLE with heptapeptide (VRPMPLQ).

<p>A series of VRPMPLQ/CLE images from different patients showing non-dysplastic colonocytes. The fluorescence signal is seen emanating from areas corresponding to the pericryptal spaces and, to a much lesser extent, from the crypts-lumen. Crypts are highlighted in negative.</p