Towards in vivo larynx imaging: assessing mechanical properties of larynx with Brillouin microscopy

Cancer related deaths remain among the most common in the US with laryngeal cancer being among the most complicated to diagnose and treat. Most cancers in the larynx begin on the mucosal surface which yields cell morphology and biomechanical changes. Existing techniques that allow elastic properties measurements are incapable of achieving this goal in vivo. The main objective of a present study is to evaluate viability of Brillouin microscpectroscopy application to in vivo differentiation of various tissue types inside the larynx based on elasticity measurements. Here we are reporting successful application of Brillouin spectroscopy to characterization of postmortem porcine larynx' Inferior Vocal Fold, Superior Vocal Fold, and Supraglottal Wall regions. Acquired data correlated well with previously reported results, indicating viability of Brillouin spectroscopy application to in vivo tissue imaging, morphological and mechanical characterization as a substitute for tissue biopsy.