Optical coherence tomography of the larynx in the awake patient
Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Washington, DC, September 16-19, 2007.
Received 9 September 2007; accepted 3 December 2007.
Objective
To demonstrate the feasibility of performing optical coherence tomography of the human larynx on the awake patient with a novel flexible fiberoptic delivery system.
Study Design
Prospective clinical trial.
Subjects and Methods
Imaging was performed in 17 awake patients. A flexible optical coherence tomography probe was inserted through the nose and placed in near or gentle contact with laryngeal tissues under direct endoscopic visualization.
Results
Images were successfully obtained from all laryngeal subsites and clearly identified laryngeal mucosal microanatomy. Several critical probe design modifications improved rotational and angular control of the distal tip while allowing linear translation of the probe and allowing more accurate apposition of the probe onto target tissues, which is critical for transnasal laryngeal imaging.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the feasibility of awake transnasal laryngeal optical coherence tomography and identifies key instrumentation needed to obtain useful images.
aDepartment of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA
bBeckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine, CA.
Corresponding author: Brian J.F. Wong, MD, PhD, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Beckman Laser Institute, University of California, Irvine, 1002 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92612.
ABSTRACT