UC Irvine

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a minimally invasive, light-based imaging modality which produces high-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) images of biological tissues. A major focus of biophotonics research over the last 10 years is OCT-based evaluation of subepithelial laryngeal microanatomy, vocal fold vibration, and differentiation between benign and malignant disease processes of the larynx. With utility in both operative and office-based settings, OCT has potential as an adjunct diagnostic imaging modality to assist clinicians in the evaluation of normative and benign laryngeal processes and vibration parameters of the vocal cords. This chapter describes OCT-based delineation of vocal fold microanatomy, evolution of OCT technology, and OCT research to study normative anatomy, benign pathology, and functionality of the larynx.