Using optical coherence tomography to evaluate skin sun damage and precancer

• Published in: Lasers in surgery and medicine Vol. 39; no. 9; pp. 687 - 695
• Main Authors: Korde, Vrushali R., Bonnema, Garret T., Xu, Wei, Krishnamurthy, Chetankumar, Ranger-Moore, James, Saboda, Kathylynn, Slayton, Lisa D., Salasche, Stuart J., Warneke, James A., Alberts, David S., Barton, Jennifer K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.10.2007
• Subjects: actinic keratosis; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; image processing; imaging; Keratosis - diagnosis; Middle Aged; Precancerous Conditions - diagnosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin - radiation effects; skin cancer; Sunlight; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0196-8092; 1096-9101
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20573

Background and Objectives Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a depth resolved imaging modality that may aid in identifying sun damaged skin and the precancerous condition actinic keratosis (AK). Study Design/Materials and Methods OCT images were acquired of 112 patients at 2 sun protected and 2 sun exposed sites, with a subsequent biopsy. Each site received a dermatological evaluation, a histological diagnosis, and a solar elastosis (SE) score. OCT images were examined visually and statistically analyzed. Results Characteristic OCT image features were identified of sun protected, undiseased, sun damaged, and AK skin. A statistically significant difference (P<0.0001) between the average attenuation values of skin with minimal and severe solar elastosis was observed. Significant differences (P<0.0001) were also found between undiseased skin and AK using a gradient analysis. Using image features, AK could be distinguished from undiseased skin with 86% sensitivity and 83% specificity. Conclusion OCT has the potential to guide biopsies and provide non‐invasive measures of skin sun damage and disease state, possibly increasing efficiency of chemopreventive agent trials. Lesers Surg. Med. 39:687–695, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.