title: Spectroscopic and Imaging Characteristics of Pigmented Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer and Melanoma in Patients with Skin Phototypes III and IV.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. Differentiating between malignant and benign skin tumors, however, can be challenging. As a result, various auxiliary tools have been developed to aid in the diagnosis of cutaneous neoplasms. Here, skin tumors were investigated through analysis of their digital image histograms and spectroscopic response under ultraviolet (UV) and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty tumoral lesions were spectroscopically and histologically studied. For optical studies, UV at 375 nm and white LEDs were used to illuminate the lesions. Commercial cameras were used for imaging, and a miniature spectrometer with a bifurcated optical fiber was used for spectroscopic measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, the intensity histograms of the images taken under white and UV illumination and the spectroscopic response under white light showed clear differences between pigmented basal cell carcinoma (BCC), intradermal melanocytic nevus (IDN), and melanoma lesions for skin phototypes III and IV. However, there was little difference in their spectroscopic response to the UV LED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found differences in the intensity and shape of diffuse reflectance spectra of pigmented BCC, IDN, and melanoma lesions in patients with skin phototypes III and IV. Also, images taken under UV and white light were helpful for differentiation of these pigmented lesions. Additional research is needed to ascertain the clinical utility of these tools for skin cancer diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: División de Dermatología, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", 14080 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5291-0538
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arroyo-Camarena
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Dermatología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", 14080 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Cherit
authors.affiliation: División de Dermatología, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González", 14080 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lammoglia-Ordiales
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofotónica, ESIME Zac, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07738 Ciudad de México, México ; Departamento de Formación Básica Disciplinaria, UPIIH, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad del Conocimiento y la Cultura, 42162 Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo México.
authors.forename: Diego A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fabila-Bustos
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofotónica, ESIME Zac, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07738 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escobar-Pio
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofotónica, ESIME Zac, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07738 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Suren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stolik
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofotónica, ESIME Zac, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07738 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valor-Reed
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofotónica, ESIME Zac, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 07738 Ciudad de México, México.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Rosa-Vázquez
keywords: Digital images; Melanoma; Skin cancer; Spectroscopy