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Optical Coherence Tomography

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Technology in Practical Dermatology

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Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technology that offers a view into the superficial layers of the skin in vivo in real-time. An infrared broadband light source allows the visualization of micro structural morphology of tissues and changes up to a depth of 1–2 mm with a resolution between 3 and 15 μm, depending on the system used. The combination of the classical cross-sectional OCT images (vertical) and en-face view (horizontal) is now established routine and adds additional value to the diagnostic capability of the technique. Moreover, technological developments have led to an increased resolution, a larger field of view as well as an increased scanning speed in current systems. OCT enables evaluation of non-melanoma skin cancers, melanocytic lesions and inflammatory diseases, assessment of wound, investigation of hair and nail disorders, quantification of skin changes and therapy monitoring.

Dynamic OCT (D-OCT) allows the in vivo evaluation of blood vessels and their distribution within specific lesions, providing additional functional information and consequently greater density of data. D-OCT is applicable in skin cancers including melanoma, as well as in a variety of inflammatory skin diseases, chronic wounds and other areas of dermatological research.

This chapter will give an overview of this technology and its indications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

    Victor Desmond Mandel & Giovanni Pellacani

Authors
  1. Victor Desmond Mandel
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  2. Giovanni Pellacani
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Michele Fimiani

  2. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Pietro Rubegni

  3. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Elisa Cinotti

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Mandel, V.D., Pellacani, G. (2020). Optical Coherence Tomography. In: Fimiani, M., Rubegni, P., Cinotti, E. (eds) Technology in Practical Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-45350-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-45351-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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