Label-free quantitative phase imaging-based assessment of intestinal inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis

We evaluated the application of quantitative phase imaging (QPI) with digital holographic microscopy (DHM) for the assessment of histopathological inflammation in patients with Ulcerative colitis (UC). Endoscopically obtained colonic and rectal mucosal biopsy samples from 21 patients with UC were analyzed by capturing DHM QPI images from which subsequently the subepithelial refractive index (RI) was determined. The retrieved RI data were correlated with established histological scoring systems including the Nancy index (NI) as well as with endoscopic and clinical findings. In conclusion, our data demonstrate DHM as a promising tool for quantitative assessment of mucosal inflammation in patients with UC.