title: Raman Spectroscopy: Incorporating the Chemical Dimension into Dermatological Diagnosis.
abstract: Raman spectroscopy provides chemical analysis of tissue in vivo. By measuring the inelastic interactions of light with matter, Raman spectroscopy can determine the chemical composition of a sample. Diseases that are visually difficult to visually distinguish can be delineated based on differences in chemical composition of the affected tissue. Raman spectroscopy has successfully found spectroscopic signatures for skin cancers and differentiated those of benign skin growths. With current and on-going advances in optics and computing, inexpensive and effective Raman systems may soon be available for clinical use. Raman spectroscopy provides direct analyses of skin lesions, thereby improving both disease diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrow
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: W Clark
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lambert
keywords: Disease classification; Raman spectroscopy; non-invasive diagnostic technology