Site-Coded Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Evaluation by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A Descriptive Pilot Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive optical device for diagnostics of epithelial structures, including oral mucosa. To date, there are very few investigations conducted by a methodical comparison between clinical/histological and OCT parameters and with a specific reference to the anatomical site-variability of the oral mucosa. Our study performed an in vivo OCT systematic evaluation of thirty site-coded oral squamous cell carcinomas (in comparison both to the OCT scans of the same site-coded healthy mucosa and to the histological images), to identify potential standardized site-specific OCT-OSCC patterns. This study, representing the first systematic descriptive site-specific OCT investigation of a cohort of OSCCs, aims to support the reliable diagnostic use of OCT in oral cancer. ABSTRACT: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an emerging non-invasive method for oral diagnostics, proving to be a practicable device for epithelial and subepithelial evaluation. The potential validity of OCT in oral cancer assessment has been explored but, to date, there are very few investigations conducted with a systematic comparison between clinical/histological and OCT parameters, especially in strict reference to the anatomical site-codification of the oral mucosa. In this regard, our study performed a two-steps evaluation (in vivo OCT and histological investigations) of suspected OSCCs, progressively recruited, using as references the OCT images of the same site-coded healthy mucosa, to provide as much as possible site-specific determinants. Thirty histologically confirmed OSCCs were recruited. Specific OCT mucosal features (SEL—Stratified Epithelial Layer; BM—Basement Membrane; LP—Lamina Propria) were registered and processed using the SRQR (Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research) statement. The systematic dual descriptive OCT analysis revealed that OSCC scans present a complete alteration of epithelial (KL, SEL) and subepithelial (BM, LP) layers with a site-specificity characteristic; moreover, peculiar OCT configurations such as “icicle-like” structures could be strongly suggestive of neoplastic infiltration. This study supports the OCT use for the development of more specific optical structural models applied to oral carcinogenesis.