A Latrive1, L R C Teixeira1,2, A S L Gomes3, D M Zezell1. 1. Center for Lasers and Applications - CLA, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Facial Care Centre - CADEFI, IMIP, Recife, PE, Brazil. 3. Physics Department, Center for Exact Sciences and Nature - CCEN, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Port-Wine Stains (PWS) are vascular malformations of the dermis, whereas hemangiomas are vascular tumors usually present at birth. Early non-invasive diagnosis of the vascular lesion would greatly increase treatment efficiency. We propose to use optical coherence tomography (OCT), a morphological imaging technique, coupled with functional blood-flow Doppler modality. METHODS: We imaged lesions from five patients: one with PWS, four with hemangiomas, using a Thorlabs Swept-Source OCT system at 1325 nm. Additional Doppler images allow for distinguishing blood vessels from empty cavities that appear similar on conventional OCT images. RESULTS: We are able to distinguish between normal skin and vascular lesions. The PWS lesion presents blood vessels of mean diameter 114 μm with a standard deviation of 92 μm, and mean depth 304 μm with a standard deviation of 99 μm. The hemangiomas present blood vessels of mean diameter 39 μm with a standard deviation of 19 μm, and mean depth 298 μm with a standard deviation of 133 μm. CONCLUSION: We show a significant difference between the vascular characteristics of the studied PWS and hemangiomas lesions. We believe that OCT complemented by Doppler OCT could be a promising method for future non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of some vascular lesions.
BACKGROUND: Port-Wine Stains (PWS) are vascular malformations of the dermis, whereas hemangiomas are vascular tumors usually present at birth. Early non-invasive diagnosis of the vascular lesion would greatly increase treatment efficiency. We propose to use optical coherence tomography (OCT), a morphological imaging technique, coupled with functional blood-flow Doppler modality. METHODS: We imaged lesions from five patients: one with PWS, four with hemangiomas, using a Thorlabs Swept-Source OCT system at 1325 nm. Additional Doppler images allow for distinguishing blood vessels from empty cavities that appear similar on conventional OCT images. RESULTS: We are able to distinguish between normal skin and vascular lesions. The PWS lesion presents blood vessels of mean diameter 114 μm with a standard deviation of 92 μm, and mean depth 304 μm with a standard deviation of 99 μm. The hemangiomas present blood vessels of mean diameter 39 μm with a standard deviation of 19 μm, and mean depth 298 μm with a standard deviation of 133 μm. CONCLUSION: We show a significant difference between the vascular characteristics of the studied PWS and hemangiomas lesions. We believe that OCT complemented by Doppler OCT could be a promising method for future non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of some vascular lesions.