Editing Optical coherence tomography (section)

==Selected applications==
Optical coherence tomography is an established medical imaging technique and is used across several medical specialties including ophthalmology and cardiology and is widely used in basic science research applications.

=== Ophthalmology ===
Ocular (or ophthalmic) OCT is used heavily by [[Ophthalmology|ophthalmologists]] and [[optometrists]] to obtain high-resolution images of the [[retina]] and [[Anterior segment of eyeball|anterior segment]]. Owing to OCT's capability to show cross-sections of tissue layers with micrometer resolution, OCT provides a straightforward method of assessing [[Retina#Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)|cellular organization]], [[photoreceptor integrity line|photoreceptor integrity]],<ref>{{cite web|title=The ABCs of OCT|url=https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/the-abcs-of-oct|website=Review of Optometry}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sherman J | title = Photoreceptor integrity line joins the nerve fiber layer as key to clinical diagnosis | journal = Optometry | volume = 80 | issue = 6 | pages = 277–278 | date = June 2009 | pmid = 19465337 | doi = 10.1016/j.optm.2008.12.006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Outer Retinal Layers as Predictors of Vision Loss|url=https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/outer-retinal-layers-as-predictors-of-vision-loss|website=Review of Ophthalmology}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cuenca N, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Pinilla I | title = Cellular Characterization of OCT and Outer Retinal Bands Using Specific Immunohistochemistry Markers and Clinical Implications | journal = Ophthalmology | volume = 125 | issue = 3 | pages = 407–422 | date = March 2018 | pmid = 29037595 | doi = 10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.09.016 | hdl-access = free | hdl = 10045/74474 }}</ref> and [[axon]]al thickness in [[glaucoma]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Grewal DS, Tanna AP | title = Diagnosis of glaucoma and detection of glaucoma progression using spectral domain optical coherence tomography | journal = Current Opinion in Ophthalmology | volume = 24 | issue = 2 | pages = 150–161 | date = March 2013 | pmid = 23328662 | doi = 10.1097/ICU.0b013e32835d9e27 | s2cid = 39039199 }}</ref> [[macular degeneration]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Keane PA, Patel PJ, Liakopoulos S, Heussen FM, Sadda SR, Tufail A | title = Evaluation of age-related macular degeneration with optical coherence tomography | journal = Survey of Ophthalmology | volume = 57 | issue = 5 | pages = 389–414 | date = September 2012 | pmid = 22898648 | doi = 10.1016/j.survophthal.2012.01.006 }}</ref> [[macular edema|diabetic macular edema]],<ref name="Virgili">{{cite journal | vauthors = Virgili G, Menchini F, Casazza G, Hogg R, Das RR, Wang X, Michelessi M | title = Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detection of macular oedema in patients with diabetic retinopathy | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 1 | pages = CD008081 | date = January 2015 | issue = 4 | pmid = 25564068 | pmc = 4438571 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD008081.pub3 }}</ref> [[multiple sclerosis]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Dörr J, Wernecke KD, Bock M, Gaede G, Wuerfel JT, Pfueller CF, Bellmann-Strobl J, Freing A, Brandt AU, Friedemann P | display-authors = 6 | title = Association of retinal and macular damage with brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 6 | issue = 4 | pages = e18132 | date = April 2011 | pmid = 21494659 | pmc = 3072966 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0018132 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2011PLoSO...618132D }} {{Open access}}</ref> optic neuritis,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Petzold A, Fraser CL, Abegg M, Alroughani R, Alshowaeir D, Alvarenga R, Andris C, Asgari N, Barnett Y, Battistella R, Behbehani R, Berger T, Bikbov MM, Biotti D, Biousse V, Boschi A, Brazdil M, Brezhnev A, Calabresi PA, Cordonnier M, Costello F, Cruz FM, Cunha LP, Daoudi S, Deschamps R, de Seze J, Diem R, Etemadifar M, Flores-Rivera J, Fonseca P, Frederiksen J, Frohman E, Frohman T, Tilikete CF, Fujihara K, Gálvez A, Gouider R, Gracia F, Grigoriadis N, Guajardo JM, Habek M, Hawlina M, Martínez-Lapiscina EH, Hooker J, Hor JY, Howlett W, Huang-Link Y, Idrissova Z, Illes Z, Jancic J, Jindahra P, Karussis D, Kerty E, Kim HJ, Lagrèze W, Leocani L, Levin N, Liskova P, Liu Y, Maiga Y, Marignier R, McGuigan C, Meira D, Merle H, Monteiro ML, Moodley A, Moura F, Muñoz S, Mustafa S, Nakashima I, Noval S, Oehninger C, Ogun O, Omoti A, Pandit L, Paul F, Rebolleda G, Reddel S, Rejdak K, Rejdak R, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Rougier MB, Sa MJ, Sanchez-Dalmau B, Saylor D, Shatriah I, Siva A, Stiebel-Kalish H, Szatmary G, Ta L, Tenembaum S, Tran H, Trufanov Y, van Pesch V, Wang AG, Wattjes MP, Willoughby E, Zakaria M, Zvornicanin J, Balcer L, Plant GT | display-authors = 6 | title = Diagnosis and classification of optic neuritis | journal = The Lancet. Neurology | volume = 21 | issue = 12 | pages = 1120–1134 | date = December 2022 | pmid = 36179757 | doi = 10.1016/s1474-4422(22)00200-9 | s2cid = 252564095 | url = https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10156457/ }}</ref> and other [[eye disease]]s or systemic pathologies which have ocular signs.<ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Aik Kah T |date=2018|title=CuRRL Syndrome: A Case Series|url=https://actascientific.com/ASOP/pdf/ASOP-01-0016.pdf|journal=Acta Scientific Ophthalmology|volume=1|pages=9–13}}</ref> Additionally, ophthalmologists leverage OCT to assess the vascular health of the retina via a technique called OCT angiography (OCTA).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kashani AH, Chen CL, Gahm JK, Zheng F, Richter GM, Rosenfeld PJ, Shi Y, Wang RK | display-authors = 6 | title = Optical coherence tomography angiography: A comprehensive review of current methods and clinical applications | journal = Progress in Retinal and Eye Research | volume = 60 | pages = 66–100 | date = September 2017 | pmid = 28760677 | pmc = 5600872 | doi = 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2017.07.002 }}</ref> In [[Eye surgery|ophthalmological surgery]], especially retinal surgery, an OCT can be mounted on the microscope. Such a system is called an ''intraoperative OCT'' (iOCT) and provides support during the surgery with clinical benefits.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ehlers JP, Tao YK, Srivastava SK | title = The value of intraoperative optical coherence tomography imaging in vitreoretinal surgery | journal = Current Opinion in Ophthalmology | volume = 25 | issue = 3 | pages = 221–227 | date = May 2014 | pmid = 24614147 | pmc = 4119822 | doi = 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000044 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pfau M, Michels S, Binder S, Becker MD | title = Clinical Experience With the First Commercially Available Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography System | journal = Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers & Imaging Retina | volume = 46 | issue = 10 | pages = 1001–1008 | date = 2015 | pmid = 26599241 | doi = 10.3928/23258160-20151027-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Neuhann R, Neuhann T, Hörster R, Cursiefen C, Guell J, Siebelmann S | title = Laser-integrated real-time OCT in anterior segment procedures | journal = Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery | volume = 47 | issue = 12 | pages = e88–e92 | date = December 2021 | pmid = 34393183 | doi = 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000773 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Polarization-sensitive OCT was recently applied in the human retina to determine optical polarization properties of vessel walls near the optic nerve.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Neuhann R, Neuhann T, Hörster R, Cursiefen C, Guell J, Siebelmann S | title = Laser-integrated real-time OCT in anterior segment procedures | journal = Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery | volume = 47 | issue = 12 | pages = e88–e92 | date = December 2021 | pmid = 34393183 | pmc = 8367251 | doi = 10.1364/BOE.426079 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Retinal imaging with PS-OCT demonstrated how the thickness and birefringence of blood vessel wall tissue of healthy subjects could be quantified, in vivo.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Afsharan |first1=Hadi |last2=Hackmann |first2=Michael J. |last3=Wang |first3=Qiang |last4=Navaeipour |first4=Farzaneh |last5=Jayasree |first5=Stephy Vijaya Kumar |last6=Zawadzki |first6=Robert J. |last7=Silva |first7=Dilusha |last8=Joo |first8=Chulmin |last9=Cense |first9=Barry |date=2021-07-01 |title=Polarization properties of retinal blood vessel walls measured with polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography |url=https://opg.optica.org/abstract.cfm?URI=boe-12-7-4340 |journal=Biomedical Optics Express |language=en |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=4340–4362 |doi=10.1364/BOE.426079 |issn=2156-7085 |pmc=8367251 |pmid=34457418}}</ref> PS-OCT was subsequently applied to patients with diabetes and age-matched healthy subjects, and showed an almost 100% increase in vessel wall birefringence due to diabetes, without a significant change in vessel wall thickness.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Afsharan |first1=Hadi |last2=Silva |first2=Dilusha |last3=Joo |first3=Chulmin |last4=Cense |first4=Barry |date=August 2023 |title=Non-Invasive Retinal Blood Vessel Wall Measurements with Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography for Diabetes Assessment: A Quantitative Study |journal=Biomolecules |language=en |volume=13 |issue=8 |pages=1230 |doi=10.3390/biom13081230 |issn=2218-273X |pmc=10452597 |pmid=37627295 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In patients with hypertension however, the retinal vessel wall thickness increased by 60% while the vessel wall birefringence dropped by 20%, on average.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Afsharan |first1=Hadi |last2=Anilkumar |first2=Vidyalakshmi |last3=Silva |first3=Dilusha |last4=Dwivedi |first4=Girish |last5=Joo |first5=Chulmin |last6=Cense |first6=Barry |date=2024-01-01 |title=Hypertension-associated changes in retinal blood vessel walls measured in vivo with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography |journal=Optics and Lasers in Engineering |volume=172 |pages=107838 |bibcode=2024OptLE.17207838A |doi=10.1016/j.optlaseng.2023.107838 |issn=0143-8166 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The large differences measured in healthy subjects and patients suggest that retinal measurements with PS-OCT could be used as a screening tool for hypertension and diabetes.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-20 |title=Basic eye test could diagnose diabetes and hypertension |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/health/basic-eye-test-could-diagnose-diabetes-and-hypertension-c-11962397 |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}</ref>

OCT can used to measure the thickness of the [[Retinal nerve fiber layer|Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eyewiki.org/Optic_Nerve_and_Retinal_Nerve_Fiber_Imaging | title=Optic Nerve and Retinal Nerve Fiber Imaging - EyeWiki }}</ref>

=== Cardiology ===
{{main|Intravascular optical coherence tomography}}
In the settings of cardiology, OCT is used to image [[coronary arteries]] to visualize vessel wall lumen morphology and microstructure at a resolution ~10 times higher than other existing modalities such as [[intravascular ultrasound]]s, and x-ray angiography ([[intracoronary optical coherence tomography]]). For this type of application, 1&nbsp;mm in diameter or smaller fiber-optics catheters are used to access artery lumen through semi-invasive interventions such as [[percutaneous coronary intervention]]s.

The first demonstration of endoscopic OCT was reported in 1997, by researchers in Fujimoto's laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tearney GJ, Brezinski ME, Bouma BE, Boppart SA, Pitris C, Southern JF, Fujimoto JG | title = In vivo endoscopic optical biopsy with optical coherence tomography | journal = Science | volume = 276 | issue = 5321 | pages = 2037–2039 | date = June 1997 | pmid = 9197265 | doi = 10.1126/science.276.5321.2037 | s2cid = 43035300 }}</ref> The first TD-OCT imaging catheter and system was commercialized by [[LightLab Imaging, Inc.]], a company based in Massachusetts in 2006. The first FD-OCT imaging study was reported by [[Massachusetts General Hospital]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tearney GJ, Waxman S, Shishkov M, Vakoc BJ, Suter MJ, Freilich MI, Desjardins AE, Oh WY, Bartlett LA, Rosenberg M, Bouma BE | display-authors = 6 | title = Three-dimensional coronary artery microscopy by intracoronary optical frequency domain imaging | journal = JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging | volume = 1 | issue = 6 | pages = 752–761 | date = November 2008 | pmid = 19356512 | pmc = 2852244 | doi = 10.1016/j.jcmg.2008.06.007 }}</ref>  Intracoronary FD-OCT was first introduced in the market in 2009 by LightLab Imaging, Inc.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightlab-imaging-returns-to-europcr-2010-with-strong-and-growing-worldwide-acceptance-of-c7-xr-oct-imaging-system-94607959.html |title=LightLab launches FD-OCT in Europe |access-date=9 September 2016}}</ref> followed by [[Terumo]] Corporation in 2012 and by Gentuity LLC in 2020.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bezerra HG, Quimby DL, Matar F, Mohanty BD, Bassily E, Ughi GJ | title = High-Frequency Optical Coherence Tomography (HF-OCT) for Preintervention Coronary Imaging: A First-in-Human Study | journal = JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging | volume = 16 | issue = 7 | pages = 982–984 | date = July 2023 | pmid = 37407126 | doi = 10.1016/j.jcmg.2023.01.013 | s2cid = 258115402 }}</ref> The higher acquisition speed of FD-OCT enabled the widespread adoption of this imaging technology for coronary artery imaging. It is estimated that over 100,000 FD-OCT coronary imaging cases are performed yearly, and that the market is increasing by approximately 20% every year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bioopticsworld.com/articles/print/volume-9/issue-6/optical-coherence-tomography-beyond-better-clinical-care-oct-s-economic-impact.html |title=Optical Coherence Tomography: Beyond better clinical care: OCT's economic impact | vauthors = Swanson E |date=13 June 2016 |website=BioOptics World |access-date=9 September 2016}}</ref>

Other developments of intracoronary OCT included the combination with other optical imaging modalities for multi-modality imaging. Intravascular OCT has been combined with near-infrared [[intravascular fluorescence|fluorescence molecular imaging]] (NIRF) to enhance its capability to detect molecular/functional and tissue morphological information simultaneously.<ref>{{cite journal |display-authors=6 |vauthors=Ughi GJ, Wang H, Gerbaud E, Gardecki JA, Fard AM, Hamidi E, Vacas-Jacques P, Rosenberg M, Jaffer FA, Tearney GJ |date=November 2016 |title=Clinical Characterization of Coronary Atherosclerosis With Dual-Modality OCT and Near-Infrared Autofluorescence Imaging |journal=JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging |volume=9 |issue=11 |pages=1304–1314 |doi=10.1016/j.jcmg.2015.11.020 |pmc=5010789 |pmid=26971006}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |display-authors=6 |vauthors=Hara T, Ughi GJ, McCarthy JR, Erdem SS, Mauskapf A, Lyon SC, Fard AM, Edelman ER, Tearney GJ, Jaffer FA |date=February 2017 |title=Intravascular fibrin molecular imaging improves the detection of unhealed stents assessed by optical coherence tomography in vivo |journal=European Heart Journal |volume=38 |issue=6 |pages=447–455 |doi=10.1093/eurheartj/ehv677 |pmc=5837565 |pmid=26685129}}</ref> In a similar way, combination with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been implemented.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Fard AM, Vacas-Jacques P, Hamidi E, Wang H, Carruth RW, Gardecki JA, Tearney GJ |date=December 2013 |title=Optical coherence tomography--near infrared spectroscopy system and catheter for intravascular imaging |journal=Optics Express |volume=21 |issue=25 |pages=30849–30858 |bibcode=2013OExpr..2130849F |doi=10.1364/OE.21.030849 |pmc=3926541 |pmid=24514658}}</ref>

=== Neurovascular ===
{{main|Intravascular optical coherence tomography}}
Endoscopic/intravascular OCT has been further developed for use in neurovascular applications including imaging for guiding endovascular treatment of ischemic stroke and brain aneurysms.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gounis |first1=Matthew J. |last2=Ughi |first2=Giovanni J. |last3=Marosfoi |first3=Miklos |last4=Lopes |first4=Demetrius K. |last5=Fiorella |first5=David |last6=Bezerra |first6=Hiram G. |last7=Liang |first7=Conrad W. |last8=Puri |first8=Ajit S. |date=January 2019 |title=Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography for Neurointerventional Surgery |journal=Stroke |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=218–223 |doi=10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.022315|pmid=30580737 |pmc=6541539 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Chen CJ, Kumar JS, Chen SH, Ding D, Buell TJ, Sur S, Ironside N, Luther E, Ragosta M, Park MS, Kalani MY, Liu KC, Starke RM | display-authors = 6 | title = Optical Coherence Tomography: Future Applications in Cerebrovascular Imaging | journal = Stroke | volume = 49 | issue = 4 | pages = 1044–1050 | date = April 2018 | pmid = 29491139 | doi = 10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.019818 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Initial clinical investigations with existing coronary OCT catheters have been limited to proximal intracranial anatomy of patient with limited tortuosity, as coronary OCT technology was not designed for the tortuous cerebrovasculature encountered in the brain.  However, despite these limitations, it showed the potential of OCT for the imaging of neurovascular disease.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Xu X, Li M, Liu R, Yin Q, Shi X, Wang F, Gao J, Xu G, Ye R, Liu X | display-authors = 6 | title = Optical coherence tomography evaluation of vertebrobasilar artery stenosis: case series and literature review | journal = Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery | volume = 12 | issue = 8 | pages = 809–813 | date = August 2020 | pmid = 32066569 | doi = 10.1136/neurintsurg-2019-015660 | s2cid = 211159079 }}</ref> An intravascular OCT imaging catheter design tailored for use in tortuous neurovascular anatomy has been proposed in 2020.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ughi GJ, Marosfoi MG, King RM, Caroff J, Peterson LM, Duncan BH, Langan ET, Collins A, Leporati A, Rousselle S, Lopes DK, Gounis MJ, Puri AS | display-authors = 6 | title = A neurovascular high-frequency optical coherence tomography system enables in situ cerebrovascular volumetric microscopy | journal = Nature Communications | volume = 11 | issue = 1 | pages = 3851 | date = July 2020 | pmid = 32737314 | pmc = 7395105 | doi = 10.1038/s41467-020-17702-7 | bibcode = 2020NatCo..11.3851U }}</ref>  A first-in-human study using endovascular neuro OCT (''n''OCT) has been reported in 2024.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pereira |first1=Vitor M. |last2=Lylyk |first2=Pedro |last3=Cancelliere |first3=Nicole |last4=Lylyk |first4=Pedro N. |last5=Lylyk |first5=Ivan |last6=Anagnostakou |first6=Vania |last7=Bleise |first7=Carlos |last8=Nishi |first8=Hidehisa |last9=Epshtein |first9=Mark |last10=King |first10=Robert M. |last11=Shazeeb |first11=Mohammed Salman |last12=Puri |first12=Ajit S. |last13=Liang |first13=Conrad W. |last14=Hanel |first14=Ricardo A. |last15=Spears |first15=Julian |date=2024-05-15 |title=Volumetric microscopy of cerebral arteries with a miniaturized optical coherence tomography imaging probe |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adl4497 |journal=Science Translational Medicine |language=en |volume=16 |issue=747 |pages=eadl4497 |doi=10.1126/scitranslmed.adl4497 |pmid=38748771 |issn=1946-6234|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Adnan H |last2=Andersson |first2=Tommy |date=2024-09-26 |title=Shining light on neurovascular disease |journal=Interventional Neuroradiology |language=en |pages=15910199241285962 |doi=10.1177/15910199241285962 |issn=1591-0199 |pmc=11559757 |pmid=39324217}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Snake-like" Probe Images Arteries from Within - IEEE Spectrum |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/fiber-optic-probe |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=[[IEEE]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Oncology ===
Endoscopic OCT has been applied to the detection and diagnosis of [[cancer]] and [[precancerous lesions]], such as [[Barrett's esophagus]] and esophageal [[dysplasia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bioopticsworld.com/articles/print/volume-6/issue-3/features/optical-coherence-tomography-gastroenterology--advanced-oct--nex.html |title=Next-gen OCT for the esophagus |date=1 May 2013 |website=BioOptics World |access-date=9 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gora MJ, Sauk JS, Carruth RW, Gallagher KA, Suter MJ, Nishioka NS, Kava LE, Rosenberg M, Bouma BE, Tearney GJ | display-authors = 6 | title = Tethered capsule endomicroscopy enables less invasive imaging of gastrointestinal tract microstructure | journal = Nature Medicine | volume = 19 | issue = 2 | pages = 238–240 | date = February 2013 | pmid = 23314056 | pmc = 3567218 | doi = 10.1038/nm.3052 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ughi GJ, Gora MJ, Swager AF, Soomro A, Grant C, Tiernan A, Rosenberg M, Sauk JS, Nishioka NS, Tearney GJ | display-authors = 6 | title = Automated segmentation and characterization of esophageal wall in vivo by tethered capsule optical coherence tomography endomicroscopy | journal = Biomedical Optics Express | volume = 7 | issue = 2 | pages = 409–419 | date = February 2016 | pmid = 26977350 | pmc = 4771459 | doi = 10.1364/BOE.7.000409 }}</ref>

=== Dermatology ===
The first use of OCT in dermatology dates back to 1997.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Welzel J, Lankenau E, Birngruber R, Engelhardt R | title = Optical coherence tomography of the human skin | journal = Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | volume = 37 | issue = 6 | pages = 958–963 | date = December 1997 | pmid = 9418764 | doi = 10.1016/S0190-9622(97)70072-0 | s2cid = 20078741 | url = https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-906829 }}</ref> Since then, OCT has been applied to the diagnosis of various skin lesions including carcinomas.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Boone MA, Norrenberg S, Jemec GB, Del Marmol V | title = Imaging of basal cell carcinoma by high-definition optical coherence tomography: histomorphological correlation. A pilot study | journal = The British Journal of Dermatology | volume = 167 | issue = 4 | pages = 856–864 | date = October 2012 | pmid = 22862425 | doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.11194.x | s2cid = 24965088 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Coleman AJ, Richardson TJ, Orchard G, Uddin A, Choi MJ, Lacy KE | title = Histological correlates of optical coherence tomography in non-melanoma skin cancer | journal = Skin Research and Technology | volume = 19 | issue = 1 | pages = 10–19 | date = February 2013 | pmid = 22738357 | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2012.00626.x | s2cid = 26084419 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ulrich M, von Braunmuehl T, Kurzen H, Dirschka T, Kellner C, Sattler E, Berking C, Welzel J, Reinhold U | display-authors = 6 | title = The sensitivity and specificity of optical coherence tomography for the assisted diagnosis of nonpigmented basal cell carcinoma: an observational study | journal = The British Journal of Dermatology | volume = 173 | issue = 2 | pages = 428–435 | date = August 2015 | pmid = 25904111 | doi = 10.1111/bjd.13853 | doi-access = free }}</ref> However, the diagnosis of melanoma using conventional OCT is difficult, especially due to insufficient imaging resolution.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Levine A, Wang K, Markowitz O | title = Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis of Skin Cancer | journal = Dermatologic Clinics | volume = 35 | issue = 4 | pages = 465–488 | date = October 2017 | pmid = 28886803 | doi = 10.1016/j.det.2017.06.008 }}</ref> Emerging high-resolution OCT techniques such as LC-OCT have the potential to improve the clinical diagnostic process, allowing for the early detection of malignant skin tumors – including melanoma – and a reduction in the number of surgical excisions of benign lesions.<ref name="Dubois 2018">{{cite journal | vauthors = Dubois A, Levecq O, Azimani H, Siret D, Barut A, Suppa M, Del Marmol V, Malvehy J, Cinotti E, Rubegni P, Perrot JL | display-authors = 6 | title = Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography for high-resolution noninvasive imaging of skin tumors | journal = Journal of Biomedical Optics | volume = 23 | issue = 10 | pages = 1–9 | date = October 2018 | pmid = 30353716 | doi = 10.1117/1.JBO.23.10.106007 | s2cid = 53023955 | bibcode = 2018JBO....23j6007D | doi-access = free }}  [[File:CC-BY icon.svg|50px]] This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)] license.</ref> Other promising areas of application include the imaging of lesions where excisions are hazardous or impossible and the guidance of surgical interventions through identification of tumor margins.

===Dentistry===

Researchers in Tokyo medical and Dental University were able to detect enamel white spot lesions around and beneath the orthodontic brackets using swept source OCT.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Velusamy P, Shimada Y, Kanno Z, Ono T, Tagami J | title = Optical evaluation of enamel white spot lesions around orthodontic brackets using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT): An in vitro study | journal = Dental Materials Journal | volume = 38 | issue = 1 | pages = 22–27 | date = February 2019 | pmid = 30158348 | doi = 10.4012/dmj.2017-262 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

=== Research applications ===
Researchers have used OCT to produce detailed images of mice brains, through a "window" made of zirconia that has been modified to be transparent and implanted in the skull.<ref name=Nanomedicine201308>{{cite journal | vauthors = Damestani Y, Reynolds CL, Szu J, Hsu MS, Kodera Y, Binder DK, Park BH, Garay JE, Rao MP, Aguilar G | display-authors = 6 | title = Transparent nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized-zirconia calvarium prosthesis | journal = Nanomedicine | volume = 9 | issue = 8 | pages = 1135–1138 | date = November 2013 | pmid = 23969102 | doi = 10.1016/j.nano.2013.08.002 | s2cid = 14212180 | url = https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/0th8v0p9 }}</ref><ref name="Mohan 2013">{{cite web | vauthors = Mohan G | title=A window to the brain? It's here, says UC Riverside team | website=Los Angeles Times | date=September 4, 2013 | url=https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-window-brain-20130903-story.html}}</ref> Optical coherence tomography is also applicable and increasingly used in [[industrial engineering|industrial applications]], such as [[nondestructive testing]] (NDT), material thickness measurements,<ref>{{cite patent |country=US |number=7116429 |status=patent |title=Determining thickness of slabs of materials |gdate=2006-10-03 |fdate=2003-01-18 |pridate=2003-01-18 | inventor = Walecki WJ, Van P  }}.</ref> and in particular thin silicon wafers<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Walecki WJ, Szondy F | veditors = Novak EL, Wolfgang O, Gorecki C |title=Integrated quantum efficiency, reflectance, topography and stress metrology for solar cell manufacturing |journal=Proc. SPIE |volume=7064 |page=70640A |date=2008 |doi=10.1117/12.797541 |series=Interferometry XIV: Applications |bibcode=2008SPIE.7064E..0AW |s2cid=120257179 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Walecki WJ, Lai K, Pravdivtsev A, Souchkov V, Van P, Azfar T, Wong T, Lau SH, Koo A | veditors = Tanner DM, Ramesham R |title=Low-coherence interferometric absolute distance gauge for study of MEMS structures |journal=Proc. SPIE |volume=5716 |page=182 |date=2005 |doi=10.1117/12.590013 |series=Reliability, Packaging, Testing, and Characterization of MEMS/MOEMS IV |bibcode=2005SPIE.5716..182W |s2cid=110785119 }}</ref> and compound semiconductor wafers thickness measurements<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Walecki WJ, Lai K, Souchkov V, Van P, Lau SH, Koo A |date=2005 |title=Novel noncontact thickness metrology for backend manufacturing of wide bandgap light emitting devices |journal=Physica Status Solidi C |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=984–989 |doi=10.1002/pssc.200460606 |bibcode=2005PSSCR...2..984W }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Walecki W, Wei F, Van P, Lai K, Lee T, Lau SH, Koo A | veditors = Tanner DM, Rajeshuni R |title=Novel low coherence metrology for nondestructive characterization of high-aspect-ratio microfabricated and micromachined structures |journal=Proc. SPIE |volume=5343 |page=55 |date=2004 |doi=10.1117/12.530749|series=Reliability, Testing, and Characterization of MEMS/MOEMS III |s2cid=123249666 }}</ref> surface roughness characterization, surface and cross-section imaging<ref>{{cite report | vauthors = Guss G, Bass I, Hackel R, Demos SG |title= High-resolution 3-D imaging of surface damage sites in fused silica with Optical Coherence Tomography |publisher= [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] |id= UCRL-PROC-236270 |date= November 6, 2007 |url= https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/354371.pdf |access-date= December 14, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170211222735/https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/354371.pdf |archive-date= February 11, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite conference | vauthors = Walecki W, Wei F, Van P, Lai K, Lee T, Lau SH, Koo A |url=http://www.gaas.org/Digests/2004/2004Papers/8.2.pdf |title=Interferometric Metrology for Thin and Ultra-Thin Compound Semiconductor Structures Mounted on Insulating Carriers |conference=CS Mantech Conference |date=2004 }}</ref> and volume loss measurements.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Zvagelsky |first1=Roman |last2=Mayer |first2=Frederik |last3=Beutel |first3=Dominik |last4=Rockstuhl |first4=Carsten |last5=Gomard |first5=Guillaume |last6=Wegener |first6=Martin |date=2022-12-12 |title=Towards in-situ diagnostics of multi-photon 3D laser printing using optical coherence tomography |url=https://www.light-am.com/en/article/doi/10.37188/lam.2022.039 |journal=Light: Advanced Manufacturing |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=466–480 |doi=10.37188/lam.2022.039 |issn=2689-9620|url-access=subscription }}</ref> OCT systems with feedback can be used to control manufacturing processes. With high speed data acquisition,<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Walecki WJ, Pravdivtsev A, Santos II M, Koo A |title=High-speed high-accuracy fiber optic low-coherence interferometry for in situ grinding and etching process monitoring |journal=Proc. SPIE |volume=6293 |page=62930D |date=August 2006 |doi=10.1117/12.675592 |series=Interferometry XIII: Applications |bibcode=2006SPIE.6293E..0DW |s2cid=121209439 }}</ref> and sub-micron resolution, OCT is adaptable to perform both inline and off-line.<ref>See, for example: {{cite web |url=http://www.zebraoptical.com/InterferometricProbe.html |title=ZebraOptical Optoprofiler: Interferometric Probe }}</ref> Due to the high volume of produced pills, an interesting field of application is in the pharmaceutical industry to control the coating of tablets.<ref>{{cite patent |country=EP |number=2799842 |status=application |title=A device and a method for monitoring a property of a coating of a solid dosage form during a coating process forming the coating of the solid dosage form |pubdate=2014-11-05 |gdate= |fdate=2014-04-29 |pridate=2013-04-30 |invent1=Markl, Daniel |invent2=Hannesschläger, Günther |invent3=Leitner, Michael |invent4=Stephan Sacher, Daniel Koller, Johannes Khinast}}; {{cite patent |country=GB |number=2513581 |status=application }}; {{cite patent |country=US |number=20140322429 A1 |status=application |url=https://www.google.com/patents/US20140322429 }}.</ref> Fiber-based OCT systems are particularly adaptable to industrial environments.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Walecki WJ, Szondy F, Wang A |veditors=Xiao H, Fan S |url=http://lib.semi.ac.cn:8080/tsh/dzzy/wsqk/SPIE/vol7322/73220K.pdf |title=Fiber optics low-coherence IR interferometry for defense sensors manufacturing |journal=Proc. SPIE |volume=7322 |page=73220K |date=30 April 2009 |doi=10.1117/12.818381 |series=Photonic Microdevices/Microstructures for Sensing |bibcode=2009SPIE.7322E..0KW |s2cid=120168355 |access-date=25 May 2011 |archive-date=20 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820004435/http://lib.semi.ac.cn:8080/tsh/dzzy/wsqk/SPIE/vol7322/73220K.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> These can access and scan interiors of hard-to-reach spaces,<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Dufour M, Lamouche G, Gauthier B, Padioleau C, Monchalin JP |title=Inspection of hard-to-reach industrial parts using small diameter probes |journal=SPIE Newsroom |date=13 December 2006 |url=http://spie.org/documents/newsroom/imported/467/2006100467.pdf |doi=10.1117/2.1200610.0467 |s2cid=120476700 |access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref> and are able to operate in hostile environments—whether radioactive, cryogenic, or very hot.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Dufour ML, Lamouche G, Detalle V, Gauthier B, Sammut P | title = Low-Coherence Interferometry, an Advanced Technique for Optical Metrology in Industry |url = http://www.ndt.net/abstract/wcndt2004/671.htm| doi = 10.1784/insi.47.4.216.63149 | journal = [[Insight: Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring]] | issn = 1354-2575| volume = 47 | issue = 4 | pages = 216–219 |date=April 2005 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.159.5249 | s2cid = 15657288 }}</ref> Novel optical biomedical diagnostic and imaging technologies are currently being developed to solve problems in biology and medicine.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1117/2.3201406.03 |title=Developing new optical imaging techniques for clinical use |journal=SPIE Newsroom |date=11 June 2014 | vauthors = Boppart S |url=http://www.spie.org/newsroom/boppart-video |url-access=subscription }}</ref> As of 2014, attempts have been made to use optical coherence tomography to identify root canals in teeth, specifically canal in the maxillary molar, however, there is no difference with the current methods of dental operatory microscope.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Al-Azri K, Melita LN, Strange AP, Festy F, Al-Jawad M, Cook R, Parekh S, Bozec L | display-authors = 6 | title = Optical coherence tomography use in the diagnosis of enamel defects | journal = Journal of Biomedical Optics | volume = 21 | issue = 3 | pages = 36004 | date = March 2016 | pmid = 26968386 | doi = 10.1117/1.jbo.21.3.036004 | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2016JBO....21c6004A }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Iino Y, Ebihara A, Yoshioka T, Kawamura J, Watanabe S, Hanada T, Nakano K, Sumi Y, Suda H | display-authors = 6 | title = Detection of a second mesiobuccal canal in maxillary molars by swept-source optical coherence tomography | journal = Journal of Endodontics | volume = 40 | issue = 11 | pages = 1865–1868 | date = November 2014 | pmid = 25266471 | doi = 10.1016/j.joen.2014.07.012 }}</ref>{{primary source inline|reason=Investigational study in which the authors collected the imaging data. |date=October 2016}} Research conducted in 2015 was successful in utilizing a smartphone as an OCT platform, although much work remains to be done before such a platform would be commercially viable.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Subhash HM, Hogan JN, Leahy MJ |date=May 2015 |title=Multiple-reference optical coherence tomography for smartphone applications |journal=SPIE Newsroom |url=http://spie.org/x113407.xml |doi=10.1117/2.1201503.005807 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[Photonic integrated circuits]] may be a promising option to miniaturized OCT. Similarly to [[integrated circuits]] silicon-based fabrication techniques can be used to produce miniaturized photonic systems. First in vivo human retinal imaging has been reported recently.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rank EA, Sentosa R, Harper DJ, Salas M, Gaugutz A, Seyringer D, Nevlacsil S, Maese-Novo A, Eggeling M, Muellner P, Hainberger R, Sagmeister M, Kraft J, Leitgeb RA, Drexler W | display-authors = 6 | title = Toward optical coherence tomography on a chip: in vivo three-dimensional human retinal imaging using photonic integrated circuit-based arrayed waveguide gratings | journal = Light: Science & Applications | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | pages = 6 | date = January 2021 | pmid = 33402664 | pmc = 7785745 | doi = 10.1038/s41377-020-00450-0 | bibcode = 2021LSA....10....6R }}</ref> In [[3D microfabrication]], OCT enables non-destructive testing and real-time inspection during additive manufacturing. Its high-resolution imaging detects defects, characterizes material properties and ensures the integrity of internal geometries without damaging the part.<ref name=":2" />