title: Characterization of submucosal lesions using optical coherence tomography in the rabbit subglottis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of optical coherence tomography in differentiating between several simulated subglottic lesions, using an ex vivo rabbit laryngotracheal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laryngotracheal complexes were harvested from euthanized rabbits and divided into the following 4 groups: (1) control, (2) submucosal collagen injection (simulating scar formation), (3) dehydration and rehydration (simulating edema), and (4) repeated intubation trauma. The subglottic region was imaged using optical coherence tomography. Images were later correlated with conventional histologic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The epithelium, basement membrane, lamina propria, perichondrium, and cartilage (cricoid and tracheal) were clearly imaged. In group 2, an increase in the thickness of the lamina propria was observed, in addition to a characteristic optical pattern of the injected collagen. Dehydration (in group 3) produced a visible reduction in the thickness of the lamina propria, while rehydration of the same specimen with distilled water revealed a significant increase in submucosal swelling. Repeated intubation (in group 4) resulted in tissue edema that was seen as wavy heterogeneous thickening of the lamina propria. Edema produced by repeated intubation or distilled water immersion was easily differentiated from native and collagen-injected tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optical coherence tomography successfully identifies the microstructure layers of the subglottis and can differentiate between edema and increased collagen deposition in the rabbit model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, USA.
authors.forename: Amir M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Karamzadeh
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Shuguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ridgway
authors.forename: Hau Sin
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Gurpreet S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Lih-Huei L
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: Zhongping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Brian J F
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects; D007819:Laryngeal Edema / Q000473:pathology; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen