The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to determine the feasibility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to differentiate normal and diseased tissue of the neck region intraoperatively and (2) to evaluate how accurately a cohort of test subjects can identify various tissue types when shown a sample set of OCT images. In this in vivo, prospective, single institutional study, an OCT imaging system (Niris, Imalux, Cleveland, OH) was used to image parathyroid, thyroid, lymph node, and fat tissue in 76 patients during neck surgery. Biopsies were performed for comparison of OCT images with histology in select cases (n = 20). Finally, a group of either surgeons or scientists familiar with OCT (n = 17) were shown a sample of OCT images and asked to identify the tissue. A total of 437 OCT images were analyzed, and characteristic features of each tissue type were identified. OCT demonstrated distinct differences in structural architecture and signal intensity that allows differentiation between thyroid and parathyroid tissues, lymph nodes, and fat. OCT images were also compared with histology with good correlation. There was no difference in correctly identifying OCT-imaged tissue type between surgeons and scientists. This study is the first in vivo OCT imaging study to evaluate both normal and diseased tissues that may be encountered during neck surgery. OCT has the potential to become a valuable intraoperative tool to differentiate diseased and normal thyroid tissue intraoperatively to obtain an "optical biopsy" in real time without fixation, staining, or tissue resection.
Keywords: Head and neck; Lymph node; OCT; Oncology; Optical coherence tomography; Otolaryngology; Parathyroid; Thyroid.