title: Using optical coherence tomography to evaluate skin sun damage and precancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a depth resolved imaging modality that may aid in identifying sun damaged skin and the precancerous condition actinic keratosis (AK).
  
  
  METHODS
  OCT images were acquired of 112 patients at 2 sun protected and 2 sun exposed sites, with a subsequent biopsy. Each site received a dermatological evaluation, a histological diagnosis, and a solar elastosis (SE) score. OCT images were examined visually and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristic OCT image features were identified of sun protected, undiseased, sun damaged, and AK skin. A statistically significant difference (P<0.0001) between the average attenuation values of skin with minimal and severe solar elastosis was observed. Significant differences (P<0.0001) were also found between undiseased skin and AK using a gradient analysis. Using image features, AK could be distinguished from undiseased skin with 86% sensitivity and 83% specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT has the potential to guide biopsies and provide non-invasive measures of skin sun damage and disease state, possibly increasing efficiency of chemopreventive agent trials.
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Vrushali R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Korde
authors.forename: Garret T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Bonnema
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chetankumar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthy
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ranger-Moore
authors.forename: Kathylynn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saboda
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Slayton
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Salasche
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Warneke
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013472:Sunlight; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*