Combined reflectance confocal microscopy-optical coherence tomography for delineation of basal cell carcinoma margins: an<i>ex vivo</i>study

Abstract

We present a combined reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) approach, integrated within a single optical layout, for diagnosis of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and delineation of margins. While RCM imaging detects BCC presence (diagnoses) and its lateral spreading (margins) with measured resolution of ∼1 μm, OCT imaging delineates BCC depth spreading (margins) with resolution of ∼7 μm. When delineating margins in 20 specimens of superficial and nodular BCCs, depth could be reliably determined down to ∼600 μm, and agreement with histology was within about ±50 μm.