Optical coherence tomography(OCT) is an optical imaging modality that performs high-resolution,cross-sectional,subsurface tomographic imaging of the microstructure of tissues.The physical principle of OCT is similar t...Optical coherence tomography(OCT) is an optical imaging modality that performs high-resolution,cross-sectional,subsurface tomographic imaging of the microstructure of tissues.The physical principle of OCT is similar to that of B-mode ultrasound imaging,except that it uses infrared light waves rather than acoustic waves.The in vivo resolution is 10-25 times better(about 10 μm) than with high-frequency ultrasound imaging,but the depth of penetration is limited to 1-3 mm,depending upon tissue structure,depth of focus of the probe used,and pressure applied to the tissue surface.In the last decade,OCT technology has evolved from an experimental laboratory tool to a new diagnostic imaging modality with a wide spectrum of clinical applications in medical practice,including the gastrointestinal(GI) tract and pancreatic-biliary ductal system.OCT imaging from the GI tract can be done in humans by using narrow-diameter,catheter-based probes that can be inserted through the accessory channel of either a conventional front-view endoscope,for investigating the epithelial structure of the GI tract,or a side-view endoscope,inside a standard transparent ERCP catheter,for investigating the pancreatico-biliary ductal system.Esophagus and the esophago-gastric junction has been the most widely investigated organ so far;more recently,also duodenum,colon and pancreatico-biliary ductal system have been extensively investigated.OCT imaging of the gastro-intestinal wall structure is characterized by a multiple-layer architecture that permits an accurate evaluation of the mucosa,lamina propria,muscularis mucosae,andpart of the submucosa.The technique may be,therefore,used to identify pre-neoplastic conditions of the GI tract,such as Barrett's epithelium and dysplasia,and evaluate the depth of penetration of early-stage neoplastic lesions.OCT imaging of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system could improve the diagnostic accuracy for ductal epithelial changes and the differential diagnosis between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.展开更多
文摘Optical coherence tomography(OCT) is an optical imaging modality that performs high-resolution,cross-sectional,subsurface tomographic imaging of the microstructure of tissues.The physical principle of OCT is similar to that of B-mode ultrasound imaging,except that it uses infrared light waves rather than acoustic waves.The in vivo resolution is 10-25 times better(about 10 μm) than with high-frequency ultrasound imaging,but the depth of penetration is limited to 1-3 mm,depending upon tissue structure,depth of focus of the probe used,and pressure applied to the tissue surface.In the last decade,OCT technology has evolved from an experimental laboratory tool to a new diagnostic imaging modality with a wide spectrum of clinical applications in medical practice,including the gastrointestinal(GI) tract and pancreatic-biliary ductal system.OCT imaging from the GI tract can be done in humans by using narrow-diameter,catheter-based probes that can be inserted through the accessory channel of either a conventional front-view endoscope,for investigating the epithelial structure of the GI tract,or a side-view endoscope,inside a standard transparent ERCP catheter,for investigating the pancreatico-biliary ductal system.Esophagus and the esophago-gastric junction has been the most widely investigated organ so far;more recently,also duodenum,colon and pancreatico-biliary ductal system have been extensively investigated.OCT imaging of the gastro-intestinal wall structure is characterized by a multiple-layer architecture that permits an accurate evaluation of the mucosa,lamina propria,muscularis mucosae,andpart of the submucosa.The technique may be,therefore,used to identify pre-neoplastic conditions of the GI tract,such as Barrett's epithelium and dysplasia,and evaluate the depth of penetration of early-stage neoplastic lesions.OCT imaging of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system could improve the diagnostic accuracy for ductal epithelial changes and the differential diagnosis between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.
