Optical coherence tomography of the larynx in the awake patient

To demonstrate the feasibility of performing optical coherence tomography of the human larynx on the awake patient with a novel flexible fiberoptic delivery system.

Prospective clinical trial.

Imaging was performed in 17 awake patients. A flexible optical coherence tomography probe was inserted through the nose and placed in near or gentle contact with laryngeal tissues under direct endoscopic visualization.

Images were successfully obtained from all laryngeal subsites and clearly identified laryngeal mucosal microanatomy. Several critical probe design modifications improved rotational and angular control of the distal tip while allowing linear translation of the probe and allowing more accurate apposition of the probe onto target tissues, which is critical for transnasal laryngeal imaging.

This study demonstrates the feasibility of awake transnasal laryngeal optical coherence tomography and identifies key instrumentation needed to obtain useful images.