Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography for imaging human atherosclerosis

Appl Opt. 2007 May 1;46(13):2520-7. doi: 10.1364/ao.46.002520.

Abstract

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) combines the advantages of OCT with image contrast enhancement, which is based on its ability to detect phase retardation and the fast-axis angle. Both PS-OCT images and histopathology have demonstrated similar features that allowed differentiation of atherosclerotic structures (i.e., plaques) from normal tissue. Moreover, the picrosirius polarization method was used to confirm PS-OCT assessment of collagen in the fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaques, and high-frequency (40 MHz) ultrasound images were used to identify calcium in the vessel wall. Our preliminary ex vivo investigation of human aortic specimens indicated that PS-OCT might help to identify atherosclerotic lesions.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aorta / pathology*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / pathology*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / methods
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods