OCT visualization of mucosal radiation damage in patients with head and neck cancer: pilot study

Abstract

We present the results in optical coherence tomography (OCT) visualization of structural changes in human oral cavity and pharyngeal mucosa for 14 patients in the process of radiation and chemoradiation therapy. Typical mucosal changes are seen as a decrease in the tissue layer contrast progressing to a complete contrast loss as severe mucosal damage occurs. Similar evolution in OCT images was observed for all patients. OCT changes can be seen prior to visual mucosal changes and increased as more mucosal damage occurs. Moreover, OCT was able to obtain information on the specific features of the patient response depending on the irradiation method and the individual radiosensitivity.

Optical Coherence Tomography of Laryngeal Cancer

“…In situations in which there is hypercellular epithelium and the lamina propria is hypercellular from inflammation and fibrosis, the ability to differentiate the lamina propria from epithelium may be impaired. A recent presentation of OCT of the oral mucosa observed similar changes in the epithelium and submucosa with loss of the basement membrane, indicating the onset of mucositis during radiation therapy 23 …”