title: Intra-operative application of confocal endomicroscopy using a rigid endoscope.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the application of confocal endomicroscopy during microlaryngoscopy, to enable intra-operative evaluation of human laryngeal epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rigid endoscope was connected to the scanner head of a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II confocal laser scanning system via an adapter. The endoscope was gently placed on the surface of a vocal fold through a laryngoscope during microlaryngoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The application of confocal endomicroscopy using a rigid endoscope enabled technical improvements (i.e. improved image quality, automatic volume scan, and reduced tissue pressure due to the presence of a perforation plate with central hole at the end of the endoscope) which permitted greater sensitivity and improved handling. Confocal endomicroscopy provided good quality, in vivo, en-face images and enabled an assessment of laryngeal epithelium volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This method enables the surgeon to monitor epithelial changes in pre-malignant lesions. The combination of confocal endomicroscopy together with optical coherence tomography (as a complementary technique that provides optical cross-sections) should be further explored in a formal clinicopathological study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Rostock, Doberaner Strasse 137–139, Rostock, Germany. tino.just@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Pau
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*