Combined reflectance confocal microscopy-optical coherence tomography for delineation of basal cell carcinoma margins: an ex vivo 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 $\sim 1\mu \mathrm{m}$, OCT imaging delineates BCC depth spreading (margins) with resolution of $\sim 7\mu \mathrm{m}$. When delineating margins in 20 specimens of superficial and nodular BCCs, depth could be reliably determined down to $\sim 600\mu \mathrm{m}$, and agreement with histology was within about $\pm 50\mu \mathrm{m}$.