Flow visualization of microcirculation in solid tumor tissues: intravital microscopic observation of blood circulation by use of a confocal laser scanning microscope.

To visualize the blood flow in the neovasculature of a solid tumor tissue, we utilized an intravital microscope system equipped with real-time confocal laser scanning optics. Fluorescent labeling of the blood cells and blood plasma enabled quantitative measurements of microhemodynamic parameters such as flow velocity, blood cell flux and vessel diameter in both the normal and tumor microvasculature.