title: Measuring the optical characteristics of medulloblastoma with optical coherence tomography.
abstract: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Standard treatment consists of surgical resection, followed by radiation and high-dose chemotherapy. Despite these efforts, recurrence is common, leading to reduced patient survival. Even with successful treatment, there are often severe long-term neurologic impacts on the developing nervous system. We present two quantitative techniques that use a high-resolution optical imaging modality: optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure refractive index, and the optical attenuation coefficient. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate OCT analysis of medulloblastoma. Refractive index and optical attenuation coefficient were able to differentiate between normal brain tissue and medulloblastoma in mouse models. More specifically, optical attenuation coefficient imaging of normal cerebellum displayed layers of grey matter and white matter, which were indistinguishable in the structural OCT image. The morphology of the tumor was distinct in the optical attenuation coefficient imaging. These inherent properties may be useful during neurosurgical intervention to better delineate tumor boundaries and minimize resection of normal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics and Bioengineering Laboratory, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada ; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, M4B 2K3, Canada.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vuong
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics and Bioengineering Laboratory, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada ; Hospital for Sick Children, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre and Division of Neurosurgery, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Patryk
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skowron
authors.affiliation: Universiy Health Network, Department of Pathology, 190 Elizabeth St., Toronto, M5G 2C4, Canada ; University of Toronto, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, 172 St George St, Toronto, M5R 0A3, Canada.
authors.forename: Tim-Rasmus
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kiehl
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, M4B 2K3, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyan
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Sick Children, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre and Division of Neurosurgery, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada ; Hospital for Sick Children,Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada ; University of Toronto, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garzia
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics and Bioengineering Laboratory, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada.
authors.forename: Cuiru
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, M4B 2K3, Canada ; Hospital for Sick Children,Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X8, Canada ; University of Toronto, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada ; Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Biophotonics and Bioengineering Laboratory, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada ; Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada ; Physical Science - Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada ; Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Victor X D
authors.initials: VX
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: (100.2960) Image analysis; (110.4500) Optical coherence tomography; (170.6935) Tissue characterization; (290.1350) Backscattering