Advanced diagnostics in renal mass using optical coherence tomography: a preliminary report

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Urological Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Distinguishing malignant from benign renal masses is challenging, leading to potential overtreatment.
• Nondiagnostic biopsies range from 9% to 37%, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic methods.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers quantitative tissue analysis via light backscattering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if quantitative measurements of the attenuation coefficient (μ(t)) using OCT can differentiate between normal renal parenchyma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Main Methods:

• Renal tissues (normal and RCC) were collected post-nephrectomy.
• The attenuation coefficient (μ(t)) was analyzed by comparing normal and tumor tissues across all patients and within individual patients.

Main Results:

• A significant difference was observed in the median μ(t) between normal renal tissue (4.95 mm⁻¹) and RCC (8.86 mm⁻¹).
• While differences within individual patients were not statistically significant, the overall cross-patient analysis showed a clear distinction.
• Data from 14 patients were analyzed after exclusions.

Conclusions:

• A significant difference in μ(t) exists between normal and RCC tissues across patients.
• OCT shows promise as a diagnostic tool for evaluating renal masses.
• Further research is warranted to explore OCT's role in clinical urological diagnostics.