Abstract
Dermoscopy is a skin surface microscopic technique allowing specular reflection free observation of the skin, and has been used to examine pigmented skin lesions. However, dermoscopy has limitations in providing depth information due to lack of 3D resolution. In order to overcome the limitations, we developed dermoscopy guided multi-functional optical coherence tomography (MF-OCT) providing both high-contrast superficial information and depth-resolved structural, birefringent, and vascular information of the skin simultaneously. Dermoscopy and MF-OCT were combined by using a dichroic mirror, and dark-field configuration was adapted for MF-OCT to reduce specular reflection. After characterization, dermoscopy guided MF-OCT was applied to several human skin lesions such as the scar, port-wine stain (PWS) as well as the normal skin for demonstration. Various features of the scar and PWS were elucidated by both dermoscopy and MF-OCT. Dermoscopy guided MF-OCT may be useful for evaluation and treatment monitoring of skin lesions in clinical applications.
Highlights
Dermoscopy is a skin surface microscopic technique allowing specular reflection free observation of subsurface structures in the skin, and it has been widely employed by dermatologists for evaluating pigmented skin lesions including melanoma [1,2,3,4]
We developed dermoscopy guided multi-functional Optical coherence tomography (OCT) (MF-OCT) which can simultaneously provide both high contrast superficial information and depth-resolved structural, birefringent, and vascular information of the skin
3.1 Normal skin After characterization, dermoscopy guided multi-functional optical coherence tomography (MF-OCT) was applied to the normal human skin as the control
Summary
Dermoscopy is a skin surface microscopic technique allowing specular reflection free observation of subsurface structures in the skin, and it has been widely employed by dermatologists for evaluating pigmented skin lesions including melanoma [1,2,3,4]. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a 3D imaging technique based on low coherence interferometry, and provides depth-resolved information of tissue microstructure down to 1 2 mm with high-resolution and high-imaging speed [11]. Feasibility of OCT for skin examinations has been proven in various dermatological studies [12,13,14,15], and functional OCT techniques which can provide additional information such as polarization and vasculature have been developed. Angiographic OCT based on flow characteristics provides additional vascular information within tissue, such as diameter, shape and distribution of blood vessels and their perfusion. Angiographic OCT has been applied to detecting abnormal vasculature of skin lesions such as port-wine stain (PWS) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) [24,25,26]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
