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Updated: May 17, 2026

Longitudinal Morphological and Physiological Monitoring of Three-dimensional Tumor Spheroids Using Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: February 9, 2019
Optical coherence tomography: from physical principles to clinical applications
Righab Hamdan1, Ricardo Garcia Gonzalez, Said Ghostine
1Centre chirurgical Marie-Lannelongue, cardiologie, 133, avenue de la Resistance, 92350 Le Plessis Robinson, France. mdrighabh@hotmail.com
Optical coherence tomography uses near-infrared light for high-resolution endocoronary imaging. This review covers its principles, clinical uses, and future outlook.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Biomedical Optics
Background:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging endocoronary imaging technique.
- It utilizes near-infrared light to provide high-resolution cross-sectional views of coronary arteries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamental physical principles of OCT.
- To discuss the clinical applications and current controversies surrounding OCT in cardiology.
- To explore the future perspectives of this technology.
Main Methods:
- Review of time domain and Fourier domain OCT principles.
- Analysis of clinical data and published literature on OCT applications.
- Discussion of technological advancements and limitations.
Main Results:
- OCT offers superior axial resolution compared to other intravascular imaging modalities.
- Both time domain and Fourier domain OCT have distinct advantages and applications.
- Clinical use demonstrates value in diagnosing and guiding treatment for coronary artery disease.
Conclusions:
- Optical coherence tomography is a powerful tool for intracoronary imaging.
- Further research and technological development are expected to expand its clinical utility.
- OCT is poised to become integral in interventional cardiology practices.
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