ABSTRACT
Reflectance confocal microscopy is a modern, non-invasive diagnostic method that enables real-time imaging of the epidermis and upper layers of the dermis with nearly histological precision and high contrast. The application of this technology to skin imaging during the last years has resulted in progress of dermatological diagnosis, providing virtual access to living skin, without the need for conventional histopathology. The presented method potentially has broad application in the diagnosis of skin diseases. This article provides a summary of the latest reports and previous achievements in the field of reflectance confocal microscopy. General characteristics of confocal images in selected inflammatory skin diseases are presented.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis/pathology , Microscopy, Confocal/methods , Microscopy, Interference/methods , Skin/pathology , Humans , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a modern, non-invasive diagnostic method that enables real-time imaging of epidermis and upper layers of the dermis with a nearly histological precision and high contrast. The application of this technology in skin imaging in the last few years has resulted in the progress of dermatological diagnosis, providing virtual access to the living skin erasing the need for conventional histopathology. The RCM has a potential of wide application in the dermatological diagnostic process with a particular reference to benign and malignant skin tumors. This article provides a summary of the latest reports and previous achievements in the field of RCM application in the diagnostic process of skin neoplasms. A range of dermatological indications and general characteristics of confocal images in various types of tumors are presented.
