Endoscopic optical imaging methods in the diagnostics of the laryngeal cancer

Abstract

Endoscopic optical imaging methods for the detection of mucosal lesions in the ENT area have been developed for better and earlier detection of these changes. They can be divided into horizontal methods group - showing the surface of the mucous membrane (autofluorescence, photodynamic diagnosis, Narrow Band Imaging, magnifying and contact endoscopy) and vertical methods group - visualizing different layers of the mucosa (optical coherence tomography and confocal endomicroscopy).

Some of them are routinely used in practice, others are used in experimental mode and their introduction into practice may be a matter of the near future. The authors present a comprehensive overview of available endoscopic optical imaging methods.

Keywords

• endoscopy
• optical imaging methods
• autofluorescence
• photodynamic diagnosis
• narrowband imaging
• NBI
• confocal endomicroscopy
• optical coherence tomography