Angle-resolved low-coherence interferometry: an optical biopsy technique for clinical detection of dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus

Abstract

Angle-resolved low-coherence interferometry (a/LCI) is an optical biopsy technique that measures scattered light from tissue to determine nuclear size with submicron-level accuracy. The a/LCI probe can be deployed through the accessory channel of a standard endoscope and provides feedback to physicians to guide physical biopsies. The technique has been validated in animal and ex vivo human studies, and has been used to detect dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus patients in vivo. In a recent clinical study of 46 Barrett’s esophagus patients, a/LCI was able to detect dysplasia with 100% sensitivity and 84% specificity. This report reviews the technique and discusses its potential clinical utility.

Keywords::

• Barrett’s esophagus
• dysplasia
• early detection
• endoscopy
• light scattering
• nuclear morphology
• optical biopsy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI R21-CA109907, R33-109907, R01-CA138594), the National Science Foundation (BES 03-48204) and a grant from the Coulter Translational Partnership. NG Terry has a consulting relationship with Oncoscope, Inc. A Wax has a financial interest in Oncoscope, Inc., the company that holds proprietary rights to the technology described in this article. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.