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Rapid head and neck tissue identification in thyroid and parathyroid surgery using optical coherence tomography
Nathan Yang1, Caroline Boudoux2, Etienne De Montigny2
1Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Head & Neck
|October 2, 2019
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can distinguish healthy thyroid, parathyroid, adipose, and lymph tissues. However, OCT cannot differentiate between parathyroid adenomas and lymph nodes or between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
Area of Science:
- Surgical imaging
- Medical diagnostics
- Biomedical optics
Background:
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging technique.
- OCT can visualize tissue microarchitecture in real-time.
- This study investigated OCT's ability to image neck tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if OCT can differentiate between healthy and pathological thyroid, parathyroid glands, adipose tissue, and lymph nodes.
- To assess OCT's utility in surgical settings, particularly thyroidectomies.
Main Methods:
- Prospective imaging of 27 patients undergoing neck surgery.
- 122 specimens were analyzed using OCT prior to histopathological examination.
- Qualitative OCT descriptions were developed for various tissue types.
Main Results:
- Healthy thyroid, parathyroid, adipose, and lymph node tissues exhibited distinct OCT appearances.
- Distinguishing features were present in 88%, 83%, 100%, and 82% of healthy specimens, respectively.
- OCT characteristics of pathological specimens were also documented.
Conclusions:
- OCT can differentiate healthy neck tissues, aiding parathyroid identification during thyroidectomy.
- OCT imaging of parathyroid adenomas may be confused with lymph nodes.
- OCT could not differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.
