Optical microscopy of the pediatric vocal fold.
OBJECTIVE
To compare and contrast 4 optical imaging techniques for evaluating the developing microstructure of the pediatric vocal fold and to identify the optimal strategy for in vivo imaging.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
A total of 6 laryngeal specimens: 5 pediatric (ages 10 months to 16 years) (4 from cadavers and 1 from a living patient immediately after laryngectomy) and 1 cadaveric young adult specimen (age, 23 years).


METHODS
Sequential noninvasive optical imaging of pediatric vocal fold specimens using optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI), angle-resolved OFDI (AR-OFDI), spectrally encoded confocal microscopy (SECM), and full-field optical coherence microscopy (FF-OCM), followed by fixation, sectioning, and histologic analysis of the same specimen for comparison.


METHODS
Correlation between the microstructure observed using the 4 noninvasive optical imaging techniques and with the results of histopathologic analysis for the same specimen.


RESULTS
A successful in vivo imaging technique for developmental assessment of the pediatric vocal fold would include visualization of distinct layers (epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosa) and allow for identification of the individual cells composing the layers. The OFDI and AR-OFDI techniques provide a global assessment of the microstructure of the pediatric vocal fold to a depth of 1200 mum but lack the ability to distinguish cellular and subcellular structures. The FF-OCM technique allows for visualization with improved cellular detail (1-mum resolution), but the image acquisition speed is too slow for clinical use. The SECM technique has a faster acquisition rate and shows good cellular and subcellular detail to a depth of 250 mum.


CONCLUSIONS
The OFDI and SECM techniques were identified as promising and complementary candidates for in vivo cellular and subcellular imaging of the epithelium, basement membrane, and lamina propria of the pediatric vocal fold. To further validate the clinical potential of these techniques, a handheld SECM probe has been developed and demonstrated for in vivo evaluation of the pediatric vocal fold.
Boudoux
Caroline
C
Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Leuin
Shelby C
SC
Oh
Wang Yuhl
WY
Suter
Melissa J
MJ
Desjardins
Adrien E
AE
Vakoc
Benjamin J
BJ
Bouma
Brett E
BE
Hartnick
Christopher J
CJ
Tearney
Guillermo J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007830:Larynx / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000648:ultrastructure*