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Feasibility of intraoperative imaging during Mohs surgery with reflectance confocal microscopy

Floresa ES, Cordovaa M, Kosea K, Phillipsa W, Nehala K, Rajadhyaksha M.; SPIE Vol.8926 89260F-1 2014, doi: 10.1117/12.2039590

ABSTRACT

Mohs surgery for the removal of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) is performed in stages, while being guided by theexamination for residual tumor with frozen pathology. However, preparation of frozen pathology at each stage is timeconsumingand labor-intensive. Real-time intraoperative reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) may enable rapiddetection of residual tumor directly in surgical wounds on patients. We report initial feasibility on twenty-one patients,using 35% AlCl3 for nuclear contrast. Imaging was performed in quadrants in the wound, to simulate the Mohssurgeon's examination of pathology. Images and videos of the epidermal and dermal margins were found to be ofclinically acceptable quality. Bright nuclear morphology was identified at the epidermal margin. The presence ofresidual BCC/SCC tumor and normal skin features could be detected in the peripheral and deep dermal margins.Nuclear morphology was detectable in residual BCC/SCC tumors. Intraoperative RCM imaging may enable detection ofresidual tumor, directly on Mohs patients, and may serve as an adjunct for frozen pathology. However, a stronger sourceof contrast will be necessary, and also a smaller device with an automated approach for imaging in the entire wound in arapid and controlled manner for clinical utility.

 

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