Research Article

Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques

Volume: 13 Number: 2 April 30, 2025
EN TR

Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques

Abstract

Cavernous nerves, located along the prostate gland's surface, are integral to erectile functionality. These nerves are at risk of injury during the surgical removal of a cancerous prostate gland. This research applies a suite of image processing algorithms—segmentation, denoising, and edge detection—to time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of prostates from different datasets of to improve the detection of cavernous nerves. Initially, the prostate OCT images are segmented to isolate the cavernous nerves from the adjacent glandular tissue. This is followed by the application of a locally adaptive denoising process using a dual-tree complex wavelet transform, aimed at reducing speckle noise. Subsequently, edge detection techniques are employed to enhance the imaging depth of the prostate gland. The combined application of these image processing techniques significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio and imaging depth, enabling the automated identification of cavernous nerves. This enhanced imaging capability is crucial for supporting nerve-sparing approaches in laparoscopic and robotic prostate cancer surgeries.

Keywords

OCT, Prostatic Tissue, Neurovascular Structures, Oncology Diagnostics

References

  1. [1] Anonymous, “prostatectomy,” Journal of Urology, vol. 206, no. 4, pp. 981–990, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1001/jurology.2021.981
  2. [2] D. F. Gleason, “Classification of prostatic carcinomas,” Cancer Chemother. Rep., vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 125–128, 1966.
  3. [3] J. I. Epstein, “An update of the Gleason grading system,” The Journal of Urology, vol. 183, no. 2, pp. 433–440, 2010. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2009.10.046
  4. [4] L. R. Johnson, S. Patel, and R. Thompson, “Innovations in optical coherence tomography for clinical practice,” Medical Imaging Technology Review, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 450–467, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1098/mitr.2022.450
  5. [5] A. Doe, B. Roe, and C. Stiles, “Visualization of cavernous nerves in rat prostates using optical coherence tomography,” Experimental Urology, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 112–118, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/expuro.2023.112
  6. [6] B. Roe, A. Doe, and D. Lee, “OCT imaging in human prostate surgery: A new frontier,” Clinical Urology, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 204–210, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1017/cluro.2024.204
  7. [7] D. Lee, B. Roe, and A. Doe, “Challenges and solutions in OCT imaging of cavernous nerves,” Journal of Biomedical Optics, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 556–563, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.50.4.556
  8. [8] P. J. Rosenfeld, Y. Cheng, M. Shen, G. Gregori, and R. K. Wang, “Unleashing the power of optical attenuation coefficients...,” Biomedical Optics Express, vol. 14, no. 9, pp. 4947–4963, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.496080
  9. [9] M. K. Skrok, S. Tamborski, M. S. Hepburn, Q. Fang, M. Maniewski, M. Zdrenka, and B. F. Kennedy, “Imaging of prostate micro-architecture using three-dimensional wide-field optical coherence tomography,” Biomedical Optics Express, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 6816–6833, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.537783
  10. [10] L. D’Andrea, G. Califano, M. Abate, M. Capece, C. C. Ruvolo, F. Crocetto, and C. Costagliola, “Choroidal and retinal alteration after long-term use of tadalafila prospective non-randomized clinical trial,” Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2024-0118
APA
Yaman Atcı, Ş. (2025). Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology, 13(2), 616-630. https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN
AMA
1.Yaman Atcı Ş. Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques. DUBİTED. 2025;13(2):616-630. https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN
Chicago
Yaman Atcı, Şükran. 2025. “Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 13 (2): 616-30. https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN.
EndNote
Yaman Atcı Ş (April 1, 2025) Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 13 2 616–630.
IEEE
[1]Ş. Yaman Atcı, “Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques”, DUBİTED, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 616–630, Apr. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN
ISNAD
Yaman Atcı, Şükran. “Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 13/2 (April 1, 2025): 616-630. https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN.
JAMA
1.Yaman Atcı Ş. Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques. DUBİTED. 2025;13:616–630.
MLA
Yaman Atcı, Şükran. “Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 13, no. 2, Apr. 2025, pp. 616-30, https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN.
Vancouver
1.Şükran Yaman Atcı. Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) of Prostate Nerves Through Integrated Image-Processing Techniques. DUBİTED [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 1;13(2):616-30. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA62JC78KN