title: Backscattering intensity measurements in optical coherence tomography as a method to identify parathyroid glands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have shown that the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) permits the differentiation between parathyroid tissue, thyroid tissue, lymph nodes and adipose tissue. We investigated the backscattering intensity profiles of OCT images in order to determine whether significant differences between these tissue types exist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean backscattering intensity profiles were obtained from OCT images of parathyroid glands, thyroid tissue, lymph nodes and adipose tissue. The profiles were analyzed employing Fisher's Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The results were cross validated employing improved parameter estimation techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean backscattering intensity profiles from 300 OCT images of 34 patients undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery were analyzed. The overall rate of correct classifications was 96.15%. The cross validation employing improved parameter estimation techniques yielded results identical to those derived from Fisher's LDA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides the individual assessment of OCT images by interpreting morphological criteria, backscattering intensity measurements can reliably distinguish between different tissue entities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Innenstadt Medical Campus, Nussbaumstrasse 20, Munich, 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sommerey
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Innenstadt Medical Campus, Nussbaumstrasse 20, Munich, 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ladurner
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Innenstadt Medical Campus, Nussbaumstrasse 20, Munich, 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Norah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al Arabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Innenstadt Medical Campus, Nussbaumstrasse 20, Munich, 80336, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hallfeldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Grosshadern Medical Campus, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich, 81377, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallwas
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008027:Light; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008297:Male; D010280:Parathyroid Glands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013961:Thyroid Gland; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: OCT; backscattering intensity; parathyroid gland; parathyroid surgery