High resolution imaging of transitional cell carcinoma with optical coherence tomography: feasibility for the evaluation of bladder pathology

Significant challenges regarding patient morbidity and mortality remain in the management of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Among the most important of these challenges is the inability to identify early neoplastic changes and to assess the degree of tumour invasion into the bladder wall in vivo. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been recently developed to provide in situ, high resolution, catheter/endoscope based imaging. This study explored the feasibility of OCT for the evaluation of bladder pathology. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed. In vitro imaging of pathological human bladder was performed and compared with normal specimens and histopathology. In vivo imaging of normal rabbit bladder was also performed with our current catheter/endoscope based systems. In the in vitro studies, OCT was able to delineate normal microstructure of the bladder, such as the mucosa, submucosa and muscularis layers. This was in contrast to specimens of invasive carcinoma, where a disruption of the normal bladder wall architecture was seen. The in vivo experiment demonstrated current limitations of the catheter/endoscope based systems and provided valuable information for developing an improved system for bladder imaging. The ability of OCT to delineate microstructure of the bladder wall suggests feasibility for endoscopic based imaging. In particular, there is a potential role envisioned for OCT in the management of TCC, identifying pre-malignant states and the depth of tumour invasion.