title: Anatomy of the fetal membranes using optical coherence tomography: part 1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In vitro studies on the structure of human fetal membranes have involved light or electron microscopy with fixation, dehydration, and staining. Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging technology, has provided high-resolution cross-sectional images of living biological tissues, with a penetration of 2-3 mm. We evaluated the use of this technology to examine the histologic features of human fetal membranes immediately after delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of fetal membranes of ten patients undergoing cesarean deliveries (four uncomplicated pregnancies, four with preeclampsia, and two with chorioamnionitis) and eight patients undergoing vaginal deliveries (six uncomplicated pregnancies and two with chorioamnionitis) were collected immediately after delivery. Samples were stretched across customized disks, rinsed, and analyzed using a time-domain OCT imaging system. Following OCT scanning, the samples were placed in formalin for histologic study. The OCT images were compared to histologic images of common human fetal membrane features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We were able to delineate the layers of the fetal membranes using bench-top time-domain OCT. The system was able to image histologic features of the fetal membranes, such as microscopic chorionic pseudocysts, ghost villi, meconium stained membranes, and chorioamnionitis. The OCT images corresponded with the histologic findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This feasibility study demonstrates the potential of OCT technology for real-time assessment of human fetal membranes and may provide clinically useful information at delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: cecilia.avila@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santorelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jabsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Willins
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
keywords: Chorioamnionitis; Fetal membrane; Ghost villi; Microscopic chorionic pseudocysts; Optical coherence tomography; Placental membrane