High-contrast mapping of basal cell carcinomas

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) detection is challenging due to low optical contrast in visible light.
• Current methods may require exogenous contrast agents for accurate diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using reflectance confocal imaging (RCI) at 1300 nm for noninvasive BCC detection.
• To assess the potential of RCI to differentiate BCC from normal skin without contrast agents.

Main Methods:

• Experimental demonstration of RCI at approximately 1300 nm on thick, fresh skin tissues.
• Acquisition and analysis of high-contrast reflectance confocal images.
• Comparison of imaging results with histopathology.

Main Results:

• High-contrast RCI images of BCC were obtained without exogenous contrast agents.
• BCC tissues exhibited decreased scattering and lower pixel values compared to benign skin structures.
• Histopathology confirmed the scattering differences observed in the RCI images.

Conclusions:

• Reflectance confocal imaging at 1300 nm enables noninvasive, real-time detection of BCC.
• Intrinsic differences in light scattering between BCC and normal skin can be exploited for diagnosis.
• This technique holds potential for improved BCC screening and diagnosis.