Abstract

An introduction of innovative minimally invasive methods like multimodal optical coherence tomography (OCT) with polarization-sensitivity and angiography modes for intrasurgical guidance appears to be a critical challenge for the modern neurooncology. This study aimed to develop a new instrument for targeted stereotactic brain biopsy based on cross-polarization (CP) OCT realized in standard biopsy needle to increase the safety of ongoing neurosurgical procedures. Experimental studies in vivo on the healthy rat’s brain allow detecting blood vessels in the process of moving the biopsy needle along the brain surface and detect tissue type (cerebral cortex or white matter) when the needle went inside the brain. The images was assessed by visual criteria. However, CP OCT signal quantification methods will increase the sensitivity/specificity for the tissue type differentiation and blood vessels detection. The potential of CP OCT as an effective instrument for OCT-guided stereotactic biopsy of brain tumors was demonstrated.

© 2019 SPIE/OSA