Autofluorescence analysis of dermatitis and squamous cell carcinoma in paraffin wax-embedded skin samples

Comparative study of skin autofluorescence expression in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis: A prospective in vivo study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis requires their differentiation from other eczematoid dermatitis and a determination of disease severity. However, both can be clinically difficult and the findings subjectively interpreted. We investigated the utility of in vivo autofluorescence (AF) measurements for diagnosis of both diseases, and determination of severity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with AD and 30 with psoriasis were recruited, together with sex- and age-matched patients with healthy skin. AF intensity was measured using the EcoSkin^® fluorescence video dermatoscope. In AD and psoriasis patients, AF in non-sun-exposed lesional and non-lesional skin was measured. To identify the locations that reflect characteristics of AD, AF was also measured at the other sites in the patients with AD.

RESULTS

AD was associated with lower AF and psoriasis with higher AF intensity peaking around 620 nm. In addition, skin AF intensity of each disease was associated with severity of lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive measurement of skin AF in vivo can aid in diagnosis of AD and psoriasis as well as in treatment monitoring.

On the horizon: Optical imaging for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection with negative margins remains the standard of care for high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, surgical management is often limited by poor intraoperative tumor visualization and inability to detect occult nodal metastasis. The inability to intraoperatively detect microscopic disease can lead to additional surgery, tumor recurrence, and decreased survival.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify studies incorporating optical imaging technology in the management of cutaneous SCC (January 1, 2000-December 1, 2014).

RESULTS

Several innovative optical imaging techniques, Raman spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, and fluorescence imaging, have been developed for intraoperative surgical guidance. Fifty-seven studies review the ability of these techniques to improve cutaneous SCC localization at the gross and microscopic level.

CONCLUSION

Significant advances have been achieved with real-time optical imaging strategies for intraoperative cutaneous SCC margin assessment and tumor detection. Optical imaging holds promise in improving the percentage of negative surgical margins and in the early detection of micrometastatic disease. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2204-E2213, 2016.