Improved lumpectomy margins using Optical Coherence Tomography

During the lumpectomy, the surgical team may employ optical coherence tomography (OCT) to help achieve the cleanest and most thorough tumor removal. Essentially, this technique employs near-infrared light waves and computer imaging to render a three-dimensional view of the breast tumor. The resolution of OCT is outstanding, showing details much less than one millimeter. It allows the physicians to explore tissues 'down' beneath the tumor, and may be performed in 'real time', during the surgery itself. Malignant breast tissues will appear to have a more heterogenous (varied and different) 'light-scattering' pattern than normal breast tissue.

optical coherence tomography is becoming more prevalent in breast cancer treatment

Optical coherence tomography is not yet in widespread use in breast cancer treatment as it is a very new and expensive technology. But recent studies cross referencing tomographic results with actual histological evalutions show extremely high sensitivity and specificity rates, suggesting its increased use for improved breast conserving lumpectomy techniques in the years to come.

References

1. Nguyen, F.T., Zysk, A.M., Chaney,E.J., Kotynek, J.G., Oliphant, U.J., Bellafiore, F.J., Rowland, K.M., Johson, P.A., Boppart, S.A.; Intraoperative Evaluation of Breast Tumor Margins with Optical Coherence Tomography. Cancer Res 2009;69(22):8790–6
2. Drexler, Wolfgang; Morgner, Uwe; Ghanta, Ravi K.; Kärtner, Franz X.; Schuman, Joel S.; Fujimoto, James G. "Ultrahigh resolution ophthalmic optical coherence tomography.". Nature Medicine(2001). 7 (4): 502.
3. Manquez ME, Shields CL, Karatza EC, Shields JA. Regression of choroidal metastases from breast carcinoma using aromatase inhibitors. Br J Ophthalmol. (Jun 2005) ;89(6):776-7.
   
   

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