title: Using attenuation coefficients from optical coherence tomography as markers of vocal fold maturation.
abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising technology to noninvasively assess vocal fold microanatomy. The goal of this study was to develop a methodology using OCT to identify quantifiable markers of vocal fold development.
  
  
  
  In vivo study.
  
  
  
  A two-step process was developed to reproducibly image the midmembranous vocal fold edge of 10 patients younger than 2 years and 10 patients between 11 and 16 years of age using OCT. An image analysis algorithm was implemented to extract OCT-derived A-lines for each patient. These A-lines were divided into three zones according to apparent changes in slope. Relative attenuation coefficients, or tissue- and system-dependent parameters that describe the rate at which optical signal decays, were calculated for each zone.
  
  
  
  Young patients had distinct relative attenuation coefficients in zone 1 (P < .0001), whereas zones 2 and 3 were indistinct (P = .1129). Older patients had distinct relative attenuation coefficients in zones 1, 2, and 3 (P < .0370). Between age groups, relative attenuation coefficients were different in zones 2 and 3 (P < .0001, P = .0315, respectively) and indistinct in zone 1 (P = .1438).
  
  
  
  Relative attenuation coefficients can be used as markers of vocal fold development. Differences in relative attenuation coefficients likely represent changes in extracellular matrix structure within the lamina propria and may become useful for guiding treatment of voice disorders in the pediatric population.
  
  
  
  NA Laryngoscope, 126:E218-E223, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology , Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Jordan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Engineering Physics Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Fouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benboujja
authors.affiliation: Engineering Physics Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beaudette
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Engineering Physics Department, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boudoux
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hartnick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: Voice; airway; dysphonia; pediatric