Spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma: a pilot study

The SIAscope is a portable imaging device that uses a hand-held unit to emit light of varying wavelengths when placed on the skin. The components of skin absorb light to known extents and any reflected light is received by the hand-held unit. This information is processed by the SIAscope software to produce images on a computer screen, displaying the melanin, blood, and collagen in the area of concern. Hypothesis/aims Previous research has shown the SIAscope to be both highly sensitive and specific for melanoma diagnosis. The SIAscope has not, however, been previously investigated for nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosis. We therefore conducted a pilot study to investigate such potential.

Having gained ethical approval, 20 consecutive lesions were scanned using the SIAscope, and the images were examined for features that may be indicative of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

The findings of branched vessels and vascular "flare" were indicative of a lesion being a basal cell carcinoma. Focal paleness and collagen changes were less specific in this study, but may prove to be valuable features in further studies.

This pilot study implies that the SIAscope may indeed provide an accurate method for basal cell carcinoma diagnosis by identifying features specific for such lesions. Further studies to investigate nonmelanoma skin cancer diagnosis, and to explore any potential to differentiate between basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas and between superficial and thicker basal cell carcinomas by the SIAscope, are warranted.