Ulrike L. Mueller-Lisse MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Oliver Alexander Meissner MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Margit Bauer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maximilian F. Reiser MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christian Stief MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ullrich G. Mueller-Lisse, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the reliability of their delineation on cross-sectional optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, we compared the width of different tissue layers of the wall of porcine upper ureters ex vivo as measured on OCT images and matching whole-mount digital light microscopy (DLM) sections.

Eleven specimens of porcine upper ureter were flushed with normal saline solution prior to imaging from inside by means of an OCT catheter (diameter, 0.014 inch, OCT wavelength, 1300±20 nm) at marked locations. Ring-shaped ureter specimens of 3 mm width were fixed in 4% formalin, cut, whole-mounted, and stained with H&E. Respective thicknesses of urothelium, lamina propria, and muscle layer of the ureteral wall were compared between OCT images (M1, LightLab Imaging, Inc., Westford, MA, USA) and matching DLM slides (Axioplan2, Carl-Zeiss-Corporation, Jena, Germany) by two independent observers (O1,O2), applying Bland-Altmann plots and t-tests for paired data.

When compared with DLM, respective OCT measurements by O1 and O2 overestimated width of urothelium by 0.02+/-0.01mm and 0.02+/-0.01mm (p=0.0014 and 0.0002), lamina propria by 0.02+/-0.05mm and 0.03+/-0.03mm (p=0.2047 and 0.0025), and muscle layer by 0.26+/-0.15mm and 0.07+/-0.05mm (p=<0.0001 and 0.0001).

Intraluminal OCT reliably delineates urothelium and lamina propria of the normal ureteral wall in porcine specimens ex vivo when compared with corresponding DLM histology. The outer boundaries of the muscle layer of the ureteral wall appear to be beyond reliable reach of OCT.

OCT closes the gap between endoscopy and CT of the upper urinary tract and provides images similar to histology.

Mueller-Lisse, U, Meissner, O, Bauer, M, Reiser, M, Stief, C, Mueller-Lisse, U, Morphometry of Tissue Microstructure in Normal Porcine Ureter Wall Specimens ex Vivo: Comparison of Catheter-based Intraluminal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Digital Light Microscopy (DLM).  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8016047.html