Mahmood Usama, Ridgway James, Jackson Ryan, Guo Shuguang, Su Jianping, Armstrong William, Shibuya Terry, Crumley Roger, Chen Zhongping, Wong Brian
Department of Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92612, USA.
Am J Rhinol. 2006 Mar-Apr;20(2):155-9.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging imaging modality that uses light to produce in vivo high-resolution cross-sectional images (7 microm) of tissues to depths of up to 3 mm. OCT is analogous to ultrasound, but relies on interferometry and low-coherence optical sources to produce images of tissue structure at the histological level.
In this study, OCT was used to image the mucosa overlying structures in the nasal cavity to obtain information regarding normative in vivo tissue microstructure. An OCT system using a Michaelson interferometer and a 1.3-microm broadband light source was incorporated into a fiber-optic imaging device that was inserted into the nasal cavity. Cross-sectional tomographic images of the anterior and posterior nasal septum, turbinates, and vestibule were acquired in 44 patients in either the office or the operating room during surgical endoscopy.
OCT images of the nasal mucosa identified the distinct boundaries between the epithelium, lamina propria, and underlying bone/cartilaginous tissue. Within the lamina propria, features consistent with glands, ducts, and blood vessels were clearly identified. In patients who underwent decongestant therapy, before and after images showed distinct morphological changes in the mucosa. The thickness of the epithelium was tabulated, as well.
This study establishes the potential of using OCT to produce high-resolution images of the nasal mucosa. As an in vivo tissue microstructural imaging modality, OCT may be valuable in studying the impact of allergic and infectious disease on the nasal mucosa and monitoring its response to pharmacologic therapy.
光学相干断层扫描（OCT）是一种新兴的成像方式，它利用光在体内生成组织的高分辨率横截面图像（7微米），成像深度可达3毫米。OCT类似于超声，但它依靠干涉测量法和低相干光源来生成组织学水平的组织结构图像。
在本研究中，使用OCT对鼻腔内覆盖结构的黏膜进行成像，以获取有关正常活体组织微观结构的信息。一个使用迈克尔逊干涉仪和1.3微米宽带光源的OCT系统被整合到一个插入鼻腔的光纤成像设备中。在44例患者于办公室或手术室接受手术内镜检查期间，获取了鼻中隔前后部、鼻甲和前庭的横截面断层图像。
鼻黏膜的OCT图像确定了上皮、固有层和下方骨/软骨组织之间的明显界限。在固有层内，可清晰识别出与腺体、导管和血管一致的特征。在接受减充血剂治疗的患者中，治疗前后的图像显示黏膜有明显的形态学变化。上皮厚度也被制成表格列出。
本研究证实了使用OCT生成鼻黏膜高分辨率图像的潜力。作为一种活体组织微观结构成像方式，OCT在研究变应性和感染性疾病对鼻黏膜的影响以及监测其对药物治疗的反应方面可能具有重要价值。
