Nguyen KP, Peppelman M, Hoogedoorn L, Van Erp PE, Gerritsen MP. Eur J Dermatol. 2016 Dec
1;26(6):549-565. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2016.2872.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Clinical differentiation between actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ, and invasive SCC and its variants may be difficult. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive technique for in vivo skin imaging.

OBJECTIVES:
To explicate the diagnostic and monitoring use of RCM within the spectrum of AK and SCC, and evaluate the accuracy of RCM for these diagnoses
relative to histopathology.

Nguyen KP, Peppelman M, Hoogedoorn L, Van Erp PE, Gerritsen MP. Eur J Dermatol. 2016 Dec
1;26(6):549-565. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2016.2872.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Clinical differentiation between actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in situ, and invasive SCC and its variants may be difficult. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is anon-invasive technique for in vivo skin imaging.

OBJECTIVES:
To explicate the diagnostic and monitoring use of RCM within the spectrum of AK and SCC, and evaluate the accuracy of RCM for these diagnoses relative to histopathology.

Floristán Muruzábal U, Gamo Villegas R, Pampín Franco A, Pinedo Moraleda F, Pérez Fernández E,
López-Estebaranz JL. J Dermatol. 2017 Jun;44(6):681-689. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.13743.

Abstract

Digital dermoscopy (DD) follow up is a useful strategy for monitoring patients at high risk of melanoma. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a valuable second-level examination after dermoscopy for the evaluation of difficult to diagnose lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the value of RCM in routine DD monitoring of patients at high risk of melanoma. In this prospective study, performed over 22 months, changing melanocytic lesions were detected by DD and excised.

Saral S, Hartmann D, Letulè V, Ruzicka T, Ruini C, von Braunmühl T. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2017 Jan
31;7(1):11-17. doi: 10.5826/dpc.0701a02. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a novel non-invasive diagnostic tool, which is used to differentiate skin lesions. Even in lesions with similar dermatoscopic images, RCM may improve diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: Three sets of false "twin lesions" with similar macroscopic and dermatoscopic images are matched. All lesions are evaluated with RCM and lesions are excised for further evaluation. Corresponding features in confocal images, dermatoscopy and histopathology are discussed.

Ferrari B, Pupelli G, Farnetani F, De Carvalho NT, Longo C, Reggiani C, Argenziano G, Pellacani G., J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2014 Oct 10. doi: 10.1111/jdv.12769.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Early detection of melanoma is the main objective to ensure a high survival rate. In some cases melanoma diagnosis still remain difficult and this leads to unnecessary excisions.

Stanganelli I, Longo C, Mazzoni L, Magi S, Medri M, Lanzanova G, Farnetani F, Pellacani G., Br J Dermatol. 2014 Aug 25. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13373.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Successful treatment of melanoma depends on early diagnosis, but its varied clinical presentation means that no single noninvasive method or criterion can provide reliable detection in all cases.

Guitera P, Moloney FJ, Menzies SW, Stretch JR, Quinn MJ, Hong A, Fogarty G, Scolyer RA.; JAMA Dermatol. 2013 Apr 3:1-7. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.2301.

Abstract

IMPORTANCE:
Lentigo maligna (LM) is a clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic challenge with a higher
risk of local recurrence than other types of melanoma correctly treated and also carries the cosmetically
sensitive localization of head and neck.

Rajadhyaksha M, Marghoob A, Rossi A, Halpern AC, Nehal KS. Lasers Surg Med. 2016 Oct 27. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22600.

Abstract

Following more than two decades of effort, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging of skin was granted codes for reimbursement by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dermatologists in the USA have started billing and  receiving reimbursement for the imaging procedure and for the reading and interpretation of images.

Farnetani F, Scope A, Braun RP, Gonzalez S, Guitera P, Malvehy J, Manfredini M, Marghoob AA, Moscarella E, Oliviero M, Puig S, Rabinovitz HS, Stanganelli I, Longo C, Malagoli C, Vinceti M, Pellacani G., JAMA Dermatol. 2015 May 20. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.0810.

Abstract

Importance:
Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) studies have been performed to identify criteria for diagnosis of skin neoplasms. However, RCM-based diagnosis is operator dependent. Hence, reproducibility of RCM criteria needs to be tested.

Pellacani G, Pepe P, Casari A, Longo C., Br J Dermatol. 2014 May 29. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13148.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Dermatoscopy increases both sensitivity and specificity for melanoma diagnosis.
Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non invasive technique which complements dermatoscopy, in
the evaluation of equivocal lesions at cellular resolution.

Kardorff B, Broscaru C, Greavu C, Massoudy L, d`Orville IR, Dorittke P; derm (19) 2013; In German

Abstract

The confocal laser scanning microscopy is a noninvasive, non-bloody and painless method for a high-resolution in vivo diagnosis of skin changes. On a screen the dermatologist may observe a horizontal histology slide of the skin's intact tissue at cellular resolution. The imaging is based on the reflection of a laser focused on the different skin layers. In many advanced practices and hospitals this method has been established to optimize the dermatologic diagnosis. Many studies about actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma and melanocytic tumors highlight a high specificity and sensitivity with the digital dermatologic-diagnostic confocal laser scanning microscopy. Given to the integrated and sophisticated training program and excellent continuous study program, every dermatologist may learn this method.

Ahlgrimm-Siess V, Hofmann-Wellenhof R, Cao T, Oliviero M, Scope A, Rabinovitz HS.; Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009 Sep;28(3): (S1085-5629(09)00069-8), DOI: 10.1016/j.sder.2009.06.008.2009: 180-9.

Abstract

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) allows noninvasive imaging of the epidermis and superficial dermis. Like dermoscopy, RCM acquires images in the horizontal plane (en face), allowing assessment of tissue pathology underlying dermoscopic structures of interest at a cellular-level resolution. Thus, clinicians using dermoscopy may find RCM to be particularly useful. Our aim was to show the value of RCM for diagnosis and management decisions related to pigmented and nonpigmented skin neoplasms seen in daily practice.