New advanced imaging technologies can improve the accuracy of skin cancer diagnosis, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis and unnecessary excision. We explore reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for fast, precise skin cancer diagnosis at the bedside.
75 patients with suspicious pigmented skin lesions were scanned with RCM and PAI prior to excision. Dermoscopy images were obtained prior to scanning. Morphological features and blood vessel characteristics were analysed and diagnostic accuracy assessed. Tumour thickness, blood flow, collagen, lipid and melanin content were measured by PAI. New diagnostic hypotheseses, combining PAI, RCM and dermoscopy, will be presented.
The combination of PAI and RCM offers high-resolution and deep penetration visualization of skin structures, facilitating accurate diagnosis and assessment of suspicious skin tumors at first patient visit. This approach can potentially reduce invasive procedures and the risk of misdiagnosis.
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