title: Elastic scattering spectroscopy in assessing skin lesions: an "in vivo" study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS) has been shown to be accurate in the identification of abnormalities of soft tissue. These include ischemia and inflammation, pre-cancer and cancer. The aim of this study was to compare findings of ESS with gold standard histopathology in patients with various skin lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three patients with clinically suspicious facial skin lesions were included. Those lesions with the surrounding innocuous skin were interrogated by ESS, biopsies were taken and examined histopathologically; the results were then compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preliminary analysis showed obvious spectral differences between normal and pathological skin. Spectral differences were identified when comparing benign skin conditions to malignant ones. Spectral differences were identified between basal cell carcinomas and other skin lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study shows that ESS can distinguish between normal, benign and malignant skin conditions.
authors.affiliation: Head & Neck Unit, University College London Hospitals, 250 Euston Road, London, UK. mrtupile@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tahwinder
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Upile
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerjes
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radhi
authors.forename: Jaspal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahil
authors.forename: Anuja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays