Optical coherence tomography: real-time imaging of bronchial airways microstructure and detection of inflammatory/neoplastic morphologic changes.
OBJECTIVE
Current diagnostic imaging modalities for human bronchial airways do not possess sufficient resolution and tissue penetration depth to detect early morphologic changes and to differentiate in real-time neoplastic pathology from nonspecific aberrations. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) possesses the requisite high spatial resolution for reproducible delineation of endobronchial wall profiling.


METHODS
To establish whether OCT could differentiate between the composite microstructural layers of the human airways and simultaneously determine in situ morphologic changes, using a bench-top OCT system, we obtained cross-sectional images of bronchi from 15 patients undergoing lung resections for cancer. All scanned sections underwent subsequent detailed histologic analysis, allowing direct comparisons to be made.


RESULTS
OCT imaging enables characterization of the multilayered microstructural anatomy of the airways, with a maximum penetration depth up to 2 to 3 mm and 10-microm spatial resolution. The epithelium, subepithelial components, and cartilage are individually defined. The acquired OCT images closely match histologically defined patterns in terms of structural profiles. Furthermore, OCT identifies in situ morphologic changes associated with inflammatory infiltrates, squamous metaplasia, and tumor presence.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm that OCT is a highly feasible optical tool for real-time near-histologic imaging of endobronchial pathology, with potential for lung cancer surveillance applications in diagnosis and treatment.
Whiteman
Suzanne C
SC
Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. suzannewhiteman@yahoo.co.uk
Yang
Ying
Y
Gey van Pittius
Daniel
D
Stephens
Mark
M
Parmer
Jitendra
J
Spiteri
Monica A
MA
D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*