| dc.description.abstract | Identification of the most representative location for biopsy is critical in establishing
the definitive diagnosis of oral mucosal lesions. Currently, this process involves
visual evaluation of the colour characteristics of tissue aided by topical application of
contrast enhancing agents. Although, this approach is widely practiced, it remains
limited by its lack of objectivity in identifying and delineating suspicious areas for
biopsy. To overcome this drawback there is a need to introduce a technique that
would provide macroscopic guidance based on microscopic imaging and analysis.
Optical Coherence Tomography is an emerging high resolution biomedical imaging
modality that can potentially be used as an in vivo tool for selection of the most
appropriate site for biopsy. This thesis investigates the use of OCT for qualitative
and quantitative mapping of oral mucosal lesions. Feasibility studies were performed
on patient biopsy samples prior to histopathological processing using a commercial
OCT microscope. Qualitative imaging results examining a variety of normal, benign,
inflammatory and premalignant lesions of the oral mucosa will be presented.
Furthermore, the identification and utilisation of a common quantifiable parameter in
OCT and histology of images of normal and dysplastic oral epithelium will be
explored thus ensuring objective and reproducible mapping of the progression of oral
carcinogenesis. Finally, the selection of the most representative biopsy site of oral
epithelial dysplasia would be investigated using a novel approach, scattering
attenuation microscopy. It is hoped this approach may help convey more clinical
meaning than the conventional visualisation of OCT images. | en_US |
