ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we describe the current status of research in
the application of full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-
OCT) to histopathological identification and diagnosis of tissues.
Specifically, we discuss how FF-OCT can be used as a diagnostic
tool in diverse clinical settings for the quick assessment of ex vivo
tissues, without the need for tissue processing or staining. We start
the chapter with an overview of current intraoperative diagnostic
tools, especially frozen section analysis (FSA) and its limitations.
We then provide a brief introduction to the basic principles and
instrumentation of FF-OCT and how it might overcome some of
the limitations of FSA. Next, we provide specific examples from
published studies from our group, which demonstrate the ability of
FF-OCT to recapitulate tissue architecture at histological resolution
in fresh (unfixed, unsectioned, unstained) tissues [1-3]. Toward
this end, we present a detailed atlas of various tissues from
a normal rat model [1]. We also utilized FF-OCT to evaluate
spermatogenesis within seminiferous tubules in a busulfan-treated,
Sertoli-cell-only rodent model [3]. Additionally, we present results
from a study utilizing human lobectomy specimens [2], where we
compare FF-OCT images with gold-standard hematoxylin and eosin
(H&E)-stained histopathological images generated from the same
specimens. Based on the narrative summarized above, we foresee
FF-OCT as a potentially powerful tool for rapid assessment of ex vivo
tissues that can be applicable in various clinical contexts. Finally we
end the chapter with certain limitations of the currently available
commercial prototype of FF-OCT and how these limitations might
be addressed in the future.
