Optical Imaging of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Optical Coherence Tomography and Micro CT

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes 90% of oral cancer. Early detection is a cornerstone to improve survival and to reduce diagnostic delay. We propose optical coherence tomography (OCT), as a non-invasive diagnosis method. OCT represents a new high-resolution optical technique that permits 3D, real-time imaging of near surface abnormalities in complex tissues. In the present study half of the excisional biopsy was directed to the pathologist and the other half was assigned for OCT and Micro-CT investigation. For the OCT imaging it was used an OCT prototype (1300 nm), Synchrotron Radiation Micro-CT and histopathology validated the results. Areas of OSCC of the buccal mucosa were identified in the OCT images by the disruption of the basement membrane, an epithelial layer that was highly variable in thickness, with areas of erosion, extensive epithelial down-growth and invasion into the sub-epithelial layers. In this respect, OCT seems to be a highly promising imaging modality.