Methods for biochemical analysis of soft tissue in the larynx

Our voice is probably our most valuable means of communication. The medical treatment of voice disorders is therefore of high social and economic value. Innovative medical strategies are necessary to enable an early diagnosis of cancer and a successful treatment.

Today the diagnosis of larynx cancer is mostly based on biopsies of the cancerous tissue and following analysis in a laboratory. Due to the small size of the vocal cords, which are primarily responsible for creating the primary signal of the voice, these biopsies are dangerous and are only performed when absolutely necessary. An early diagnosis or screening of larynx cancers is therefore not possible.

In this study we propose new methods for analysing the larynx tissue which enable a quantitative determination of the tissue’s properties without harming it. With these methods an early diagnosis of cancer and tissue alterations will be possible.

Principal Investigator (Tyrolean private university UMIT): Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alexander Sutor

Co-operation partner: Universitätsklinik Erlangen, HNO, Abteilung für Phoniatrie (Prof. M. Döllinger)

Funding: FWF (Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung), Projektnummer I 3806-B28