Open AccessEvaluation of optical coherence tomography as a non‐invasive diagnostic tool in cutaneous wound healing
Author(s) -
Kuck Monika,
Strese Helene,
Alawi Seyed Arash,
Meinke Martina C.,
Fluhr Joachim W.,
Burbach Guido J.,
Krah Martin,
Sterry Wolfram,
Lademann Jürgen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
skin research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.521
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1600-0846
pISSN - 0909-752X
DOI - 10.1111/srt.12077
Subject(s) - optical coherence tomography , medicine , wound healing , histopathology , biomedical engineering , pathology , radiology , surgery
Background The monitoring of wound‐healing processes is indispensable for the therapeutic effectiveness and improved care of chronic wounds. Histological sections provide the best morphological assessment of wound recovery, but cause further tissue destruction and increase the risk of infection. Therefore, it is reasonable to apply a diagnostic tool that allows a non‐invasive and reliable observation of morphological changes in wound healing. Methods Optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) is an imaging technique for in vivo evaluation of skin diseases with a resolution close to histopathology. The aim of this study was to investigate whether OCT is suited to display the phases of wound healing. For this purpose, six patients with chronic wounds were objectively characterized by OCT during a period of 2 weeks. Results Comparable results between histological findings and OCT were achieved. OCT allowed the detection of partial loss of the epidermis, vasoconstriction, vasodilatation and epithelialization. Conclusion Consequently, OCT could be a potential non‐invasive diagnostic tool for the characterization and monitoring of cutaneous wound‐healing processes over time.