title: Scanning acoustic microscopy of neoplastic and inflammatory cutaneous tissue specimens.
abstract: Acoustic microscopy utilizes high frequency ultrasound to generate microscopic images. The current study was designed to examine representative disorders of the skin by use of a reflective scanning acoustic microscope (R-SAM), and to determine whether the obtainable resolution was sufficient to render a microscopic diagnosis. An Olympus UH3 Scanning Acoustic Microscope was utilized with lenses producing burst wave frequencies at 600 and 800 MHz (600 and 800 million cylces/sec). Cutaneous tissue specimens representing 12 different neoplastic and inflammatory disorders were examined. Acoustic images of unstained sections were compared with conventional light microscopic study of sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin. In most neoplasms examined, it was possible to make a specific diagnosis primarily from low magnification pattern analysis. Although individual cells could be visualized, cytologic atypia was poorly defined. In the inflammatory disorders, a specific diagnosis was possible in all but bullous pemphigoid and lichen planus, because the composition of the inflammatory infiltrate was difficult to determine. The advantages of the R-SAM include the capability of producing an acoustic profile of the tissue and the future possibility of in situ diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography