Eijkenboom QL, Daxenberger F, Gust C, Hartmann D, Guertler A, Steckmeier S, Deussing M, French LE, Welzel J, Schuh S, Sattler EC. Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography, a novel non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of onychomycosis.
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2024;
22:367-375. [PMID:
38279541 DOI:
10.1111/ddg.15310]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Onychomycosis is common and important to distinguish from other nail diseases. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is necessary for optimal patient treatment and outcome. Non-invasive diagnostic tools have increasing potential for nail diseases including onychomycosis. This study evaluated line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) as a rapid non-invasive tool for diagnosing onychomycosis as compared to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and conventional methods.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this prospective study 86 patients with clinically suspected onychomycosis and 14 controls were examined using LC-OCT, OCT, and CLSM. KOH-preparation, fungal culture, PCR, and histopathology were used as comparative conventional methods.
RESULTS
LC-OCT had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value of all methods used, closely followed by PCR and OCT. Specificity and positive predictive value of LC-OCT were as high as with CLSM, while OCT scored much lower. The gold standard technique, fungal culture, showed the lowest sensitivity and negative predictive value. Only PCR and culture allowed species differentiation.
CONCLUSIONS
LC-OCT enables quick and non-invasive detection of onychomycosis, with advantages over CLSM and OCT, and similar diagnostic accuracy to PCR but lacking species differentiation. For accurate nail examination, LC-OCT requires well-trained and experienced operators.
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