OCT scanner visualizes vascular networks in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer

May 4, 2016
An OCT scanner showed that skin cancer lesions could be differentiated using their characteristic vascular patterns.

A team of collaborators from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, New Your Harbor Healthcare System, and Mount Sinai Hospital (all in New York, NY) has demonstrated that Michelson Diagnostics' (Maidstone, Kent, England) VivoSight optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner can be used to image the blood vessel networks grown by skin cancer, and showed that skin lesions could be differentiated using their characteristic vascular patterns. This new technology may become a powerful tool in the dermatologist's toolkit for the diagnosis of skin cancer and other conditions.

A patient's skin cancer lesion is scanned with the VivoSight OCT scanner.

The researchers compared OCT images of vascular networks in two pairs of malignant/benign skin lesions, which can be difficult to differentiate in the clinic without a biopsy: basal cell carcinoma vs. sebaceous hyperplasia, and a melanoma in situ vs. pigmented actinic keratosis. In each case, the authors report clear differences in the vascular patterns imaged by VivoSight OCT, and they comment that "these observed patterns further elucidate the potential of this imaging device to become a powerful tool in patient disease assessment." Larger studies are required to confirm these exciting new findings.

Full details of the work appear in the journal Dermatology Online; for more information, please visit http://escholarship.org/uc/item/7w10290r.

Sponsored Recommendations

Achromatic Lenses: High-Quality Custom Optics

March 13, 2025
Ensure clarity and accuracy in your optics systems with Lacroix’s achromatic lenses. Explore how our custom solutions minimize chromatic aberration for perfect results.

Manufacturing Considerations for Tolerancing Aspheres

March 13, 2025
Understand the critical factors in manufacturing aspheres and how Lacroix Optics ensures precise tolerancing in every optical component.

Explore Our Videos: Insights into Precision Optics

March 13, 2025
Get an inside look at Lacroix Optics with our collection of informative videos showcasing our capabilities, innovations, and processes.

Optical Assemblies: Reliable and Precise Solutions

March 13, 2025
Ensure your optical system works seamlessly with Lacroix Optics' custom optical assemblies. Discover the precision and reliability we bring to every project.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!