Monte Carlo simulations of light-skin interactions: implications for therapeutic and oncological applications

Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are crucial tools for understanding light-skin interactions, which have significant applications in dermatology and oncology. This review provides foundational insights into light propagation in skin tissue, focusing on absorption, scattering, and optical properties to enhance therapeutic and diagnostic applications.

Articles were selected based on their relevance to Monte Carlo simulations of light-skin interactions, emphasizing their applications in therapeutic dermatology and cancer research. The selection process prioritized recent, high-quality studies and categorized them by spectral range, penetration depth, and Monte Carlo implementations to extract trends and insights.

Existing MC simulation techniques and their clinical applications were analyzed through models of light distribution in multilayered skin. Various simulation approaches were explored, focusing on their ability to model therapeutic applications, including Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). MC simulations also provide valuable insights into the optical characteristics of the skin tissue, including constituent-based optical variations, vascular modifications, and structural changes in cancerous tissues. This review also highlights key trends in the spectral ranges and penetration depths studied in the literature, as well as the prevalence and diversity of Monte Carlo implementations used for simulating light-skin interactions. These insights collectively demonstrate the precision and adaptability of MC methods in advancing diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

MC simulations provide a robust framework for advancing both cancer diagnostics and treatments. This review identifies current challenges, emerging trends, and future research directions, emphasizing the potential of MC simulations to revolutionize cancer care.