title: Confocal microscopy: a new era in understanding the pathophysiologic background of inflammatory skin diseases.
abstract: One of the emerging and intriguing applications of reflectance confocal microscopy is the evaluation of 'dynamic' processes of the skin that cannot be otherwise analysed using histopathology that offers a picture of the tissue at one time point. This is nicely illustrated by recent article by Wolberink et al. in the current issue of Exp Dermatol, in which the Authors evaluated patterns and time interval of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) migration in psoriatic plaques by means of reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). This example underscores that a new era of confocal microscopy is starting, which promises to reveal a dynamic in vivo understanding of the pathophysiology of human skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Skin Cancer Unit, Arcispedale S.Maria Nuova, IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moscarella
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Argenziano
authors.forename: Aimilios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lallas
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: confocal microscopy; histopathology; oncology; psoriasis; skin cancer