Confocal technology in fluorescence in situ hybridization evaluation for cancer: a diagnostic improvement.

During the cancer routine diagnosis course, we commonly use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. FISH studies are conducted for genes amplification analyses (ErBb2/Neu) and also for genes translocation studies such as CMYC, BCL6, or BCL2. Usually, FISH evaluation is carried out with fluorescence microscopy and photographed with sensitive cameras. An alternative technology to the fluorescence microscopy is using the confocal microscopy for the evaluation of these samples. Some advantages of confocal microscopy are as follows: First, the use of a laser and pinhole instead of using 511983 IJSXXX10.1177/1066896913511983International Journal of Surgical PathologyCampos et al. research-article2013