Endoscopic optical coherence tomography in the diagnostic assessment of female reproductive diseases†

Accurate diagnosis of diseases of the female reproductive system is essential for achieving optimal health outcomes in women. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel and pivotal technology in biomedical imaging, providing near-histological resolution and enabling acquisition rates of multiple frames per second. As a critical branch of OCT, endoscopic OCT is capable of in vivo imaging of human physiological lumens, offering unique advantages in the detection of early small lesions within tissues. In recent years, the compelling imaging capabilities and safety features of endoscopic OCT have rendered it highly attractive for uterine cavity imaging and disease diagnosis. This offers valuable technical support for the early and precise diagnosis of reproductive diseases, fertility preservation, and comprehensive reproductive health management. In this review, we summarize the applications of endoscopic OCT in the female reproductive system and mainly elaborate on its value and potential applications in the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, which aims to provide novel insights and technical support for the early detection and precise diagnosis of diseases in the female reproductive system.