Criteria for pathology recognition in optical coherence tomography of fallopian tubes

Abstract

An increase of infertility and chronic pelvic pains syndrome, a growing level of latent diseases of this group, as well as a stably high percentage (up to 25% for infertility and up to 60% for the chronic pelvic pains syndrome) of undetermined origin raises the requirement for novel introscopic diagnostic techniques. We demonstrate abilities of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a complementary technique to laparoscopy in diagnostics of fallopian tubes pathologies. We have acquired OCT images of different parts of fallopian tubes in norm and with morphologically proven pathology. Based on comparative analysis of the OCT data and the results of histological studies, we have worked out the subjective OCT criteria for distinguishing between unaltered and pathologic tissues. The developed criteria are verified in blind recognition tests. Diagnostic efficacy of OCT diagnostics in the case ofpelvic inflammatory diseases has been statistically evaluated, and high diagnostic accuracy (88%) is shown. Basing of the subjective criteria, an attempt to develop independent criteria aimed for automated recognition of pathological states in fallopian tubes is undertaken. Enhanced diagnostic accuracy (96%) of the developed independent criteria is demonstrated.