National Cancer Institute (source definition)
Confocal Microscopy
A system of (usually) epifluorescence light microscopy in which a fine laser beam of light is scanned over the object through the objective lens. The technique is particularly good at rejecting light from outside the plane of focus and so produces higher effective resolution than is normally achieved.
Review and references
Automated source check (NCI definition)
2026-10-19
2026-10-19
professional use
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Confocal Microscopy (C17753)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C17753. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Ex vivo fluorescence confocal microscopy for real-time margin assessment of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Mohs surgery: A prospective interventional study. — Mod Pathol, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42855077; literature)
- Protocol for confocal microscopy-based localization of chorismate mutase protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in trans-Golgi compartment. — STAR Protoc, 2026-10-05 (PMID 42837261; literature)
What it is
A system of (usually) epifluorescence light microscopy in which a fine laser beam of light is scanned over the object through the objective lens. The technique is particularly good at rejecting light from outside the plane of focus and so produces higher effective resolution than is normally achieved.
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C17753. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Compliance note
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.