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Suction blister lesions and epithelialization monitored by optical coherence tomography
M G Ahlström1, L M R Gjerdrum2, H F Larsen1
1Department of Dermatology and Copenhagen Wound Healing Center, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Summary
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) initially struggled to accurately measure early skin healing (epithelialization) in suction blister lesions. However, OCT became a valuable tool for assessing skin repair in later stages of wound healing.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Biomedical Optics
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Assessing skin wound healing, specifically epithelialization, is crucial for effective treatment.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a non-invasive method for skin imaging.
- Histology remains a gold standard for evaluating tissue repair but is invasive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in assessing epithelialization of suction blister lesions.
- To compare OCT measurements of epidermal thickness (ET) with histological data.
- To determine the reliability of OCT for monitoring skin repair over time.
Main Methods:
- Suction blisters were created on healthy volunteers, and blister roofs were excised.
- Lesions were imaged using OCT on days 0, 2, and 4.
- Histological examination was performed for comparison, and skin barrier function was monitored to day 14.
Main Results:
- Epidermal thickness (ET) significantly increased from day 0 to day 4.
- OCT overestimated epithelial presence and ET compared to histology on day 4.
- Reliable OCT measurements for epithelialization were achieved from day 5-7 onwards, correlating with reduced transepidermal water loss.
Conclusions:
- OCT demonstrated poor discrimination of early-stage neoepithelium and moist surfaces in wound healing.
- OCT proved valuable for estimating epithelialization progress in later stages of skin repair.
- OCT shows potential as a non-invasive tool for monitoring wound healing over time.
