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Non-invasive imaging of pathological scars using a portable handheld two-photon microscope
Yang Han1,2, Yuxuan Sun3, Feili Yang4
1Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Chinese Medical Journal
|July 31, 2023
Summary
Portable two-photon microscopy (TPM) effectively images skin scar tissue in vivo. This non-invasive method distinguishes pathological scars from normal skin, aiding in treatment selection and efficacy assessment.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Optical Microscopy
Background:
- Pathological scars cause significant cosmetic, psychological, and functional issues.
- Current scar assessment relies on external appearance, lacking objective in vivo methods.
- Two-photon microscopy (TPM) offers potential for real-time, non-invasive subsurface imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a portable handheld TPM for in vivo imaging of pathological scars.
- To assess epidermal cells and dermal collagen structures in scars versus normal skin.
- To determine TPM's utility in evaluating scar treatment efficacy.
Main Methods:
- A portable handheld TPM was used to image 15 scar patients and 3 healthy controls.
- Five quantitative indexes were extracted: collagen depth, DEJ contour ratio, thickness, orientation, and occupation.
- Analysis included 2D and 3D imaging, comparing scar tissue to normal skin and pre/post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in epidermal morphology and collagen spectral characteristics.
- TPM indexes reliably distinguished pathological scars from normal skin.
- Statistically significant differences (P <0.05) were found for all five measured indexes, including collagen depth, thickness, occupation, orientation, and DEJ contour ratio.
Conclusions:
- Portable handheld TPM can differentiate collagen in skin tissues, proving superior to reflectance confocal microscopy for scar imaging.
- TPM serves as a valuable auxiliary tool for selecting scar treatments and assessing their effectiveness.
