Optical coherence tomography as a simple and non invasive tool for the diagnosis of oral disease: a case report

Introduction. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a new biomedical imaging modality that provides high reso- lution cross-sectional images of tissue. Conceptually, it has been compared with ultrasound scanning but it uses in- frared light and records reflections below the surface to produce a cross-sectional architectural image of the tissue. OCT has been applied in ophthalmology and recently in dermatology; several studies have shown the validity of the use of OCT in ex vivo oral lesions but, to date, it does not exist a bank of normative and pathological OCT data of the oral tissues to consent identification of cellular structures of normal and pathological processes. We report a case of fibroma, analyzing in vivo OCT use and comparing data with microscopic evaluation. Case report. A 44-year-old woman was referred to the Department Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Univer- sity of Palermo, with a neoformation on the apex region of the tongue, clinically compatible with the diagnosis of fi- broma or papilloma. Firstly, in vivo OCT analysis demonstrated the presence of a white area, due to the presence of hyper-reflective area for collagen storage that is strongly scattering. After, exeresis was performed and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of fibroma. Conclusion. Optical coherence tomographic imaging can produce detailed cross-sectional images of tissue of oral cavity and it could be a new non-invasive approach that will help improve the diagnosis and the follow up of oral le- sions. The validity of OCT in ex vivo oral lesions is confirmed in literature, while in vivo OCT validity should be sup- ported by comparation of data of several oral disease: further researches are needed.