Heating has been known to cure cancer for over 2000 years1, and recent studies have confirmed this in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas (BCC)2. The application of uncontrolled heating often results in unacceptable scarring. Our ability to control the delivery of heat using a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera and a modulated long pulsed (LP) Nd:YAG 1064nm laser has resulted in better outcomes in comparison to traditional destruction techniques3. Use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) enhances our ability to define the tumor margins prior to treatment. The combination of FLIR and OCT allows very precise treatment of BCCs with at least comparable outcomes to conventional LP Nd:YAG treatments.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive diagnostic method that offers real-time visualization of the layered architecture of the skin in vivo. The 1.7-micron OCT system has been applied in cardiology, gynecology and dermatology, demonstrating an improved penetration depth in contrast to conventional 1.3-micron OCT. To further extend the capability, we developed a 1.7-micron OCT/OCT angiography (OCTA) system that allows for a visualization of both morphology and microvasculature in the deeper layers of the skin. Using this imaging system, we imaged human skin with different benign lesions and described the corresponding features of both structure and vasculature. The significantly improved imaging depth and additional functional information suggest that the 1.7-micron OCTA system has great potential to advance both dermatological clinical and research settings for characterization of benign and cancerous skin lesions.
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