Background:　There　is　an　urgent　need　to　develop　a　non-invasive　imaging　technique　for　detecting　colorectal　dysplasia　and　cancer.　Technology　for　early　and　real-time　microscopic　assessments　to　select　the　most　representative　biopsy　sites　would　also　be　of　clinical　value.　In　this　study,　we　explored　the　sensitivity　of　optical　coherence　tomography　(OCT)　in　detecting　local　lesions　to　demonstrate　its　potential　for　the　early　detection　of　colorectal　dysplasia　and　cancer.　Methods:　An　azoxymethane/dextran　sodium　sulfate　mouse　model　of　colorectal　carcinogenesis　was　utilized.　Mice　were　imaged　by　OCT,　and　colorectal　tissue　sections　were　observed　with　hematoxylin　and　eosin　staining.　The　results　of　the　parallel　analyses　were　compared　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　OCT　in　imaging　and　early　screening　of　colorectal　lesions.　Results:　Dysplasia　and　cancer　could　be　distinguished　from　normal　colon　tissues　based　on　the　OCT　images.　However,　simple　morphological　changes　observed　in　the　OCT　images　were　not　sufficient　to　distinguish　different　degrees　of　dysplasia　or　distinguish　dysplasia　from　cancerous　tissues.　The　Youden　index　and　diagnostic　efficiency　of　OCT　for　colorectal　dysplasia　and　cancer　were　62.50%　and　82.14%,　respectively,　while　the　sensitivity　and　specificity　were　87.50%　and　75.00%,　respectively.　Further,　the　positive　and　negative　predictive　values　were　82.35%　and　81.82%,　respectively.　Conclusions:　Based　on　our　findings,　we　predict　that　OCT　is　a　promising　non-invasive　imaging　technique　that　can　offer　excellent　positive　detection　rates　and　diagnostic　accuracy　for　early　colorectal　dysplasia　and　cancer.　This　technique　is　expected　to　be　valuable　in　realizing　real-time　qualitative　analysis　and　guided　targeted　biopsy.