Quantitative Characterization of Undulation Patterns and Regional Features of the Oral Basement Membrane Zone Using...

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology and diagnostic imaging.

Background:

• Alterations in the basement membrane zone (BMZ) undulation patterns are early indicators of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers real-time, in vivo, high-resolution 3D imaging of oral microstructures, including the BMZ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the BMZ undulation index and epithelial thickness at four oral sites.
• To assess the potential of BMZ morphology and epithelium thickness as early diagnostic markers for OSCC.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optical coherence tomography (OCT) for in vivo 3D imaging of oral mucosal microstructures.
• Quantified the basement membrane zone (BMZ) undulation index and epithelial thickness at the floor of the mouth, lower lip, buccal mucosa, and hard palate.

Main Results:

• Mean BMZ undulation indices varied by site: floor (14.64%), lower lip (8.74%), buccal mucosa (9.45%), and hard palate (14.84%).
• Epithelial thicknesses also varied significantly across sites, ranging from 209.48 μm (floor) to 596.10 μm (buccal mucosa).

Conclusions:

• BMZ morphology and epithelial thickness show significant variation across different oral sites.
• These parameters represent promising, non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).