Quantitative Tissue Elasticity Measurement of Human Cadaver Oesophagus by Using Vibrational Optical Coherence Elastography

The mechanical properties and structure alteration (e.g., layer morphology and thickness) of the oesophagus wall can reflect its pathological conditions. Hence, quantitative measurement of the above-mentioned properties can play a significant role in aiding the disease diagnosis in clinical application. As a fast and non-invasive imaging modality, Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and vibrational elastography can provide high resolution (<10 µm) structural and mechanical mapping of soft tissue. This study is a preliminary study to explore the potential of OCT and VOCE to evaluate both structural and mechanical properties of the oesophagus wall. Jn total, 52 oesophageal tissue samples were acquired from seven human Thiel-embalmed cadavers and were examined by the vibrational OCE. Both the OCT structure image and quantitative elasticity of each sample layer were obtained. In the OCT structure image, the averaged thickness for each sample layer was measured and corresponded with the histological image. Lamina propria has the largest thickness of 158.14 ± 8.75 µm, submucosa is the thinnest with a thickness of 143.19 ± 10.11 µm, and the thickness of muscularis mucosa is 149.49 ± 10.85 µm. Averaged intensity of back-scattered light from each sample layer was evaluated. Intensity of lamina propria layer, muscularis mucosa layer, and submucosa layer have an average value of 79.27 ± 0.51 dB, 69.83 ± 0.56 dB, and 76.10 ± 0.55 dB, respectively. The quantitative elasticity of each sample layer was evaluated in OCE. Elasticity of the lamina propria layer, muscularis mucosa layer, and submucosa layer were estimated as 115.64 ± 8.80 kPa, 60.28 ± 5.27 kPa, and 205.25 ± 19.03 kPa, respectively. The quantitative elasticity results obtained by vibrational OCE corresponded with the collagen distribution trend in each sample layer. This study demonstrates the ability of OCT and vibrational OCE in the characterisation and quantitative evaluation of human cadaver oesophagus wall-structure properties and mechanical properties. The feasibility of applying OCT and vibrational OCE in clinical diagnosis of oesophageal disease is also discussed.