Peritumoral clefting in basal cell carcinoma: correlation of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy and routine histology

Methods: A total of 13 BCCs were studied by RCM and histopathological techniques. Staining was performed with Alcian blue for the detection of peritumoral mucin. Correlation between RCM images and histopathological samples was studied, and the diameter of hyporefractile areas on RCM as well as the thickness of peritumoral mucin was measured. Results: Good correlation was seen between dark areas on RCM and thickness of peritumoral mucin with a mean diameter of 14 mu m (RCM) and 11.44 mu m (histopathology), respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.605 (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our results show that the peritumoral cleft-like spaces seen in BCC on histopathology exist in vivo, and correspond to the peritumoral mucin deposition. Ulrich M, Roewert-Huber F, Gonzalez S, Rius-Diaz F, Stockfleth E, Kanitakis J. Peritumoral clefting in basal cell carcinoma: correlation of in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy and routine histology.