[Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography in melanocytic tumors]

Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is an innovative and noninvasive imaging technique that combines the advantages of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Previously used for the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas, recent studies also show promising results in its application in melanocytic tumors. While in LC-OCT benign nevi exhibit a regular epidermal architecture with a honeycomb and cobblestone pattern as well as clearly defined dermoepidermal junctions (DEJ), melanomas, in contrast, exhibit an irregular cellular architecture with pagetoid ascending cells, destruction of the DEJ, and clefting. Therefore, LC-OCT expands the diagnostic spectrum for the differentiated assessment of conspicuous melanocytic lesions.