Confocal Microscopy in Skin Cancer

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) provides cellular-level imaging of skin lesions.
• It can be used non-invasively, either at the bedside (in vivo) or with excised tissue (ex vivo).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the strengths and limitations of non-invasive RCM in diagnosing skin cancer.
• To highlight RCM's role as an adjunct to dermoscopy.

Main Methods:

• Overview of RCM's capabilities in skin lesion examination.
• Correlation of RCM findings with dermoscopic and histopathologic data.

Main Results:

• RCM features for melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and nevi are well-defined.
• RCM shows good correlation with established diagnostic methods.
• RCM is particularly effective for flat skin lesions.

Conclusions:

• In vivo RCM enhances the accuracy of non-invasive skin neoplasm diagnosis.
• RCM is a valuable tool, especially for sensitive areas like the face and genital region.