title: Quantitative distinction of unique vocal fold subepithelial architectures using optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to quantitatively analyze ex vivo porcine, fetal human, and adult human vocal folds by use of optical coherence tomography (OCT). A secondary objective was to quantitatively discriminate among 1-, 2-, and 3-layer lamina propria structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an analysis of the vocal folds of 10 adult pig, 3 adult human, and 2 fetal human vocal fold specimens using OCT and histologic techniques. We present a quantitative comparison of the OCT results and histologic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that OCT allowed for the visualization of the subepithelial vocal fold architecture of all imaged tissue, and that it revealed distinct characteristic signal intensities for each type of specimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Optical coherence tomography was developed for in vivo imaging of biological microstructures. This study demonstrates the ability of OCT to differentiate between the vocal fold architectures of 3 histologically distinct types of vocal folds. Future studies aim to develop a quantitative optical imaging algorithm that can be used to facilitate an in vivo longitudinal clinical investigation of the changes that occur in this layered structure over time and maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maturo
authors.forename: Fouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benboujja
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boudoux
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hartnick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013552:Swine; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology*