title: Identification of layers in optical coherence tomography of skin: comparative analysis of experimental and Monte Carlo simulated images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the study is comparative analysis of the layers in OCT images and the morphological structure of skin with thick and thin epidermis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the difference between skin with thin and thick epidermis in two ways. The first approach consisted in determination of the thicknesses of layers of skin with thin and thick epidermis of different localizations from experimental OCT images. The second approach was to develop numerical models fitting experimental OCT images based on Monte Carlo simulations revealing structure and optical parameters of layers of skin with thick and thin epidermis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correspondence between the OCT images of skin with thin and thick epidermis and the morphological structure was confirmed. OCT images of healthy skin comprise three layers in case of skin with thin epidermis and four layers in skin with thick epidermis. The OCT image of the zone of the transition from skin with thick to skin with thin epidermis features five layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The revealed differences in the structure of horny and cellular layers of epidermis, as well as of papillary and reticular dermis in skin with thin and thick epidermis specify different optical properties of these layers in OCT images.
authors.affiliation: Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Shlivko
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics RAS, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.|N.I. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: M Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kirillin
authors.affiliation: Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Donchenko
authors.affiliation: Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Ellinsky
authors.affiliation: Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Garanina
authors.affiliation: Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Neznakhina
authors.affiliation: N.I. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Agrba
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Physics RAS, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kamensky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Monte Carlo simulation; optical coherence tomography; skin layers; thick skin; thin skin