TY - JOUR T1 - Imaging of the nasal mucosa in patients with cystic fibrosis using optical coherence tomography JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P1963 AU - Ute Oltmanns AU - Karin Palmowski AU - Nicolas Kahn AU - Ralf Eberhardt AU - Sabine Wege AU - Matthias Wiebel AU - Michael Kreuter AU - Felix Herth AU - Marcus Mall Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P1963.abstract N2 - Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and potentially linked to persistent bacterial colonization of the lungs. However, details on structural changes of the nasal mucosa in CF patients are largely unknown. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new high-resolution imaging technique that allows real-time visualization of tissue structures.Methods: A chronic sinusitis symptom score was obtained from 10 healthy controls and 10 CF patients using the validated SNOT-20 GAV questionnaire. Cross-sectional OCT images of the nasal mucosa were obtained and analyzed paying specific attention to the identification of structural details of the mucosa. Epithelial layer and total mucosal layer thickness were measured.Results: CRS scores were significantly higher in CF patients compared to healthy controls. OCT images showed details of the nasal mucosa including epithelium, basement membrane, lamina propria with seromucinous glands, vessels and cartilage. Mean nasal mucosa thickness was increased in patients with CF compared to healthy controls (1,63 ± 0,07mm vs 1,02 ± 0,05mm, respectively, p<0,0001) with oedematous appearance and increased vascularity. Mean epithelial layer thickness was increased in CF compared to controls (0,26 ± 0,02mm vs 0,17 ± 0,01mm, respectively, p<0,01).Conclusion: OCT is a new optical tool that allows near microscopic imaging of the nasal mucosa. Our results show that nasal OCT imaging is feasible and provides valuable in-vivo information on structural changes associated with CRS in CF. Further studies will show how these changes correlate with bacterial colonization, disease severity and radiological features of CRS. ER -