Differentiation Between Benign and Malignant Pigmented Skin Tumours Using Bedside Diagnostic Imaging Technologies: A Pilot Study

Terese von Knorring*, Niels Møller Israelsen, Vilde Ung, Julie L. Formann, Mikkel Jensen, Merete Haedersdal, Ole Bang, Gabriella Fredman, Mette Mogensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Rapid diagnosis of suspicious pigmented skin lesions is imperative; however, current bedside skin imaging technologies are either limited in penetration depth or resolution. Combining imaging methods is there-fore highly relevant for skin cancer diagnostics. This pilot study evaluated the ability of optical coherence tomography, reflectance confocal microscopy, photo-acoustic imaging and high-frequency ultrasound to differentiate malignant from benign pigmented skin lesions. A total of 41 pigmented skin tumours were scanned prior to excision. Morphological features and blood vessel characteristics were analysed with reflectance confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, high-frequency ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging images, and the diagnostic accuracy was assessed. Three novel photoacous-tic imaging features, 7 reflectance confocal microscopy features, and 2 optical coherence tomography features were detected that had a high correlation with malignancy; diagnostic accuracy > 71%. No significant features were found in high-frequency ultrasound. In conclusion, optical coherence tomo-graphy, reflectance confocal microscopy and pho-toacoustic imaging in combination enable image-guided bedside evaluation of suspicious pigmented skin tumours. Combining these advanced techniques may enable more efficient diagnosis of skin cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberadv00634
JournalActa Dermato-Venereologica
Volume102
Number of pages9
ISSN0001-5555
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

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© 2022, Medical Journals/Acta D-V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Angiography
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Diagnostic imaging
  • Optical coherence tomography
  • Photoacoustic techniques
  • Pigmented skin neoplasm

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