[The role and value of optical coherence tomography in gynecology]

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography is one of the most important technological progress of the last ten years in the field of medical imaging. It is similar to ultrasound imaging except that it uses properties of light instead of ultrasound. Optical coherence tomography provides images of tissue structure, and at a cellular level, in situ, in real time, with much better spatial resolution than ultrasound and without removal of tissue (optical biopsy). Using optical coherence tomography in combination with catheters or endoscopes may enable the imaging of internal organs as the cervix, the uterine tissue and the ovary. The use of optical coherence tomography in the gynecological field is still experimental and is mainly about the in vitro and in vivo diagnosis of cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer, ovary cancer, endometrial cancer and endometriosis. We aim to present the principles of optical coherence tomography and to expose the main ways of research and the future and potential clinical applications of this technique in gynecology.