The increasing incidence of skin cancer and the importance of early diagnosis is a
challenge, which requires the development of reliable, cost-effective, noninvasive, diagnostic
techniques. Several such methods based on optical imaging techniques are available
and currently being investigated. A novel method in this field is multiphoton laser
scanning microscopy (MPLSM). This technique is based on the nonlinear process of
2-photon excitation of endogenous fluorophores, which can be used to acquire horizontal
optical sectioning of intact biological tissue samples. When studying human skin, MPLSM
provides high-resolution fluorescence imaging, allowing visualization of cellular and subcellular
structures of the epidermis and upper dermis. This review covers the application of
MPLSM as a diagnostic tool for superficial skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinomas,
squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and melanomas. MPLSM has also been applied in other
research areas related to skin, which will be mentioned briefly. The morphologic features
observed in MPLSM images of skin tumors are comparable to traditional histopathology.
Safety issues, limitations, and further improvements are discussed. Although further investigations
are required to make MPLSM a mainstream clinical diagnostic tool, MPLSM
has the potential of becoming a noninvasive, bedside, histopathologic technique for the
diagnosis of superficial skin cancers.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 28:190-195 © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The increasing incidence of skin cancer and the importance of early diagnosis is a
challenge, which requires the development of reliable, cost-effective, noninvasive, diagnostic
techniques. Several such methods based on optical imaging techniques are available
and currently being investigated. A novel method in this field is multiphoton laser
scanning microscopy (MPLSM). This technique is based on the nonlinear process of
2-photon excitation of endogenous fluorophores, which can be used to acquire horizontal
optical sectioning of intact biological tissue samples. When studying human skin, MPLSM
provides high-resolution fluorescence imaging, allowing visualization of cellular and subcellular
structures of the epidermis and upper dermis. This review covers the application of
MPLSM as a diagnostic tool for superficial skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinomas,
squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and melanomas. MPLSM has also been applied in other
research areas related to skin, which will be mentioned briefly. The morphologic features
observed in MPLSM images of skin tumors are comparable to traditional histopathology.
Safety issues, limitations, and further improvements are discussed. Although further investigations
are required to make MPLSM a mainstream clinical diagnostic tool, MPLSM
has the potential of becoming a noninvasive, bedside, histopathologic technique for the
diagnosis of superficial skin cancers.
Semin Cutan Med Surg 28:190-195 © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.