BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has demonstrated the microscopic structure of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract mucosa and submucosa in vitro. We evaluated a prototype OCT system and assessed the feasibility of OCT in the human GI tract. METHODS: The 2.4 mm diameter prototype OCT probe, inserted through an endoscope, provides a 360-degree radial scan. Images (6.7 frames/sec) are displayed on a television monitor. Tissue contact is not required. In patients undergoing elective endoscopy, OCT images were obtained of normal mucosa (confirmed by biopsy). RESULTS: Seventy-two sites were imaged (38 patients): esophagus (21), stomach (12), duodenum (11), terminal ileum (4), colon (15), and rectum (9). Varying the distance between the probe and the mucosal surface produced images of the GI wall of varying depth. When held about 1 mm above the mucosal surface, the images consisted of mucosal structures such as colonic crypts, gastric pits, and duodenal villi. With the probe held against the wall, the OCT image comprised several layers interpreted as mucosa, muscularis mucosae, and submucosa. Structures including blood vessels were evident within the submucosa. A probe with a 0.5 mm working distance to the focal point provided the best images. Reducing the frame rate to 4.0 per second facilitated image interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: OCT is feasible in the human GI tract and provides interpretable high-resolution images of mucosa and submucosa.
BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has demonstrated the microscopic structure of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract mucosa and submucosa in vitro. We evaluated a prototype OCT system and assessed the feasibility of OCT in the human GI tract. METHODS: The 2.4 mm diameter prototype OCT probe, inserted through an endoscope, provides a 360-degree radial scan. Images (6.7 frames/sec) are displayed on a television monitor. Tissue contact is not required. In patients undergoing elective endoscopy, OCT images were obtained of normal mucosa (confirmed by biopsy). RESULTS: Seventy-two sites were imaged (38 patients): esophagus (21), stomach (12), duodenum (11), terminal ileum (4), colon (15), and rectum (9). Varying the distance between the probe and the mucosal surface produced images of the GI wall of varying depth. When held about 1 mm above the mucosal surface, the images consisted of mucosal structures such as colonic crypts, gastric pits, and duodenal villi. With the probe held against the wall, the OCT image comprised several layers interpreted as mucosa, muscularis mucosae, and submucosa. Structures including blood vessels were evident within the submucosa. A probe with a 0.5 mm working distance to the focal point provided the best images. Reducing the frame rate to 4.0 per second facilitated image interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: OCT is feasible in the human GI tract and provides interpretable high-resolution images of mucosa and submucosa.
Authors: Neil Terry; Yizheng Zhu; Julie K M Thacker; John Migaly; Cynthia Guy; Christopher R Mantyh; Adam Wax Journal: J Biomed Opt Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 3.170
Authors: John A Evans; John M Poneros; Brett E Bouma; Jason Bressner; Elkan F Halpern; Milen Shishkov; Gregory Y Lauwers; Mari Mino-Kenudson; Norman S Nishioka; Guillermo J Tearney Journal: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2006-01 Impact factor: 11.382
Authors: Benjamin J Vakoc; Milen Shishko; Seok H Yun; Wang-Yuhl Oh; Melissa J Suter; Adrien E Desjardins; John A Evans; Norman S Nishioka; Guillermo J Tearney; Brett E Bouma Journal: Gastrointest Endosc Date: 2007-03-26 Impact factor: 9.427
Authors: Melissa J Suter; Michalina J Gora; Gregory Y Lauwers; Thomas Arnason; Jenny Sauk; Kevin A Gallagher; Lauren Kava; Khay M Tan; Amna R Soomro; Timothy P Gallagher; Joseph A Gardecki; Brett E Bouma; Mireille Rosenberg; Norman S Nishioka; Guillermo J Tearney Journal: Gastrointest Endosc Date: 2014-01-23 Impact factor: 9.427