This article is part of the supplement: 1st Scientific Meeting of the Head and Neck Optical Diagnostics Society
Oral presentation
The clinical application of optical coherence tomography in the head and neck
Head & Neck Oncology 2009, 1(Suppl 1):O6 doi:10.1186/1758-3284-1-S1-O6
Published: 28 July 2009First paragraph (this article has no abstract)
Optical coherence tomography is an imaging modality that uses light to determine cross-sectional anatomy in turbid media such as living tissues. The axial resolution of conventional OCT exceeds 10 μm and allows identification of specific structural features of the tissue such as the epithelium, basement membrane, lamina propria, and various specialized structures such as glands and ducts. This presentation will review the University of California Irvine experience with OCT imaging in the head and neck (2002–2009) encompassing over 400 subjects in the operating room, ICU, and clinic. Imaging in adults, paediatric cases, and neonates will be discussed as well as instrumentation for use in surgery and the office.