title: New directions in dermatopathology: in vivo confocal microscopy in clinical practice.
abstract: In vivo confocal microscopy represents a new device that generates a virtual skin biopsy at cytologic resolution. This article describes the most relevant confocal findings and their histopathologic correlates in skin oncology and inflammatory diseases. The light and dark of confocal microscopy are briefly discussed in relation with its clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Skin Care Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova-IRCCS, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalaudek
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology