Three-dimensional ex-vivo visualization of normal and inflamed small intestine and colonic tissue using optical coherence tomography

Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), are characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Early diagnoses are critical in the determination of an effective treatment. Current methods of tissue assessment remain two-dimensional and limited by lack of information under the surface of the mucosal layer. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, label-free, volumetric imaging modality which can visualize tissue structures down to the micrometer scale. Previous study has explored OCT as a method for endoscopic and benchtop assessment of colonic tissues. Here, we explore OCT in an ex vivo capacity to visualize features in IBD. Samples from human subjects with normal (not inflamed), UC, and CD diagnoses were imaged, where OCT was able to differentiate between normal ileal and colonic tissue and those from patients with CD or UC. Our study shows the promise of higher-resolution OCT to visualize both small details and overall structures in three-dimensions, informing development of future technologies.