title: Confocal microscopy patterns in nonmelanoma skin cancer and clinical applications.
abstract: Reflectance confocal microscopy is currently the most promising noninvasive diagnostic tool for studying cutaneous structures between the stratum corneum and the superficial reticular dermis. This tool gives real-time images parallel to the skin surface; the microscopic resolution is similar to that of conventional histology. Numerous studies have identified the main confocal features of various inflammatory skin diseases and tumors, demonstrating the good correlation of these features with certain dermatoscopic patterns and histologic findings. Confocal patterns and diagnostic algorithms have been shown to have high sensitivity and specificity in melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. Possible present and future applications of this noninvasive technology are wide ranging and reach beyond its use in noninvasive diagnosis. This tool can also be used, for example, to evaluate dynamic skin processes that occur after UV exposure or to assess tumor response to noninvasive treatments such as photodynamic therapy. We explain the characteristic confocal features found in the main nonmelanoma skin tumors and discuss possible applications for this novel diagnostic technique in routine dermatology practice.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, EE. UU.; Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España. Electronic address: gonzals6@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Madrid Sanchinarro, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Atención Primaria, SAS, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Histología y Anatomía Patológica, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parrado
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Center Charité, Department of Dermatology, Charité University Medicine, Berlín, Alemania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ullrich
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010145:Paget Disease, Extramammary / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Actinic keratosis; Basal cell carcinoma; Carcinoma basocelular; Carcinoma espinocelular; Diagnóstico óptico; Microscopio confocal reflectante; Optical diagnosis; Queratosis actínica; Reflectance confocal microscopy; Squamous cell carcinoma