According to recent research from the United States, "Optical coherence tomography, an imaging modality using near-infrared light, produces cross-sectional tissue images with a lateral pixel resolution of 10 mu m. However, normative data is first needed on epithelial thickness for lesion characterisation, and, to date, little exists. The purpose of our study is to measure normal laryngeal epithelial thickness by in vivo optical coherence tomography, and compare these values to those obtained from fixed ex-vivo laryngectomy specimens."

"Prospective at a single medical center in California, United States. A total of 116 patients undergoing operative endoscopy. Optical coherence tomography images of clinically normal laryngeal subsites were selected. Calibrated measurements of epithelial thickness at various laryngeal subsites were recorded. Measurements of epithelial thickness from corresponding areas were obtained using optical micrometry on histologically normal regions of 15 total laryngectomy specimens. Descriptive statistics were performed. Mean epithelial optical coherence tomography thicknesses were: true vocal cords (81 mu m), false vocal cords (78 mu m), subglottis (61 mu m), aryepiglottic folds (111 mu m), laryngeal epiglottis (116 mu m) and lingual epiglottis (170 mu m). Epithelial thicknesses in fixed tissues were: true vocal cords (103 mu m), false vocal cords (79 mu m), aryepiglottic folds (205 mu m) subglottis (61 mu m), laryngeal epiglottis (38 mu m) and lingual epiglottis (130 mu m). Optical coherence tomography does not have the artifacts associated with conventional histologic techniques," wrote M.L. Kaiser and colleagues, University of California (see also Clinical Otolaryngology).

The researchers concluded: "The inevitable development of office-based optical coherence tomography devices will increase the precision of laryngeal measurements and contribute to the clinical application of this technology in diagnosing laryngeal disease."

Kaiser and colleagues published their study in Clinical Otolaryngology (Laryngeal epithelial thickness: a comparison between optical coherence tomography and histology. Clinical Otolaryngology, 2009;34(5):460-466).

For additional information, contact B.J.F. Wong, University of California, Beckman Laser Institute, 1002 Health Science Rd. E, Irvine, CA 92612, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Clinical Otolaryngology is: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA.

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