Optical Coherence Tomography for Skin Cancer and Actinic Keratosis

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a macrooptical imaging modality using light-tissue interaction for generating images. OCT is noninvasive and creates high-resolution real-time images of the skin in cross-sectional and en face view to a depth of up to 2. mm. The biggest potential for OCT in dermatology has thus far been in the diagnosing, delineating, and treatment monitoring of nonmelanocytic skin cancer (NMSC), especially basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis, whereas pigmented lesions have been more difficult to study because of the light scattering effect of the pigment. When it comes to NMSC, architectural disarray of the epidermis is an overall characteristic finding in OCT images. Promising results have already been demonstrated in delineating NMSC tumors and also the diagnostic criteria for BCC have been established. It is speculated that the continued technological development can propel the method to a greater level of use in a variety of dermatological diseases.