title: Optical coherence tomography in conjunction with bronchoscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of and the potential for using optical coherence tomography in conjunction with conventional bronchoscopy in the evaluation of the airways.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a pilot study based on an ex vivo experimental model involving three animals: one adult New Zealand rabbit and two Landrace pigs. An optical coherence tomography imaging catheter was inserted through the working channel of a flexible bronchoscope in order to reach the distal trachea of the animals. Images of the walls of the trachea were systematically taken along its entire length, from the distal to the proximal portion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The imaging catheter was easily adapted to the working channel of the bronchoscope. High-resolution images of cross sections of the trachea were taken in real time, precisely delineating microstructures, such as the epithelium, submucosa, and cartilage, as well as the adventitia of the anterior and lateral tracheal walls. The corresponding layers of the epithelium, mucosa, and cartilage were clearly differentiated. The mucosa, submucosa, and trachealis muscle were clearly identified in the posterior wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible to use an optical coherence tomography imaging catheter in combination with a flexible bronchoscope. Optical coherence tomography produces high-resolution images that reveal the microanatomy of the trachea, including structures that are typically seen only on images produced by conventional histology.
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Coração Serviço de Endoscopia Respiratória, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ascedio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ascedio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Celso Kiyochi
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Takimura
authors.forename: Pedro Alves
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lemos Neto
authors.forename: Viviane Rossi
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*