Application of optical coherence microscopy in the diagnosis of tight filum terminal syndrome

Objective To explore the diagnostic feasibility of optical coherence microscopy (OCM) in children with tight filum terminale syndrome (TFTS). Methods A total of 15 TFTS children were operated by transecting filum terminale and laminoplasty.OCM images were acquired immediately after processing specimens in vitro and the results compared with those of routine examinations.At the same time, 5 fetuses of filum terminale with non-spinal cord neurological diseases were examined.And the scanning outcomes of TFTS and normal fetuses were compared. Results Compared with normal fetal filum terminale, fibrous tissue hyperplasia plus cellulose-like degeneration appeared in filum terminale lesions, elasticity declined and adipose tissue and capillaries increased.OCM scan could directly visualize fiber, blood vessel and adipose in filum terminale.Fibrous tissue of normal fetus was arranged loosely, adipose tissue absent, fibrous tissue of filum terminale lesion dense and disorderly. Conclusions OCM scan may be employed for visualizing distinctly the organization structure of filum terminale in vitro rapidly and non-invasively.And pathological changes of filum terminale lesions are detected so as to enable an early diagnosis of TFTS. Key words: Tight filum terminale syndrome; Optical coherence microscopy; Histological examination