Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography of psoriasis, eczema and lichen planus: a case series with histopathological correlation

Background Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a novel, non-invasive technique that provides in vivo, high-resolution images in both vertical and horizontal sections. Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate LC-OCT imaging in some inflammatory disorders and to correlate the resulting features with histopathology. Methods The retrospective study included patients with histopathological confirmed diagnosis of plaque psoriasis, atopic eczema and lichen planus, who were imaged with LC-OCT before the biopsy. LC-OCT was performed with the commercially available LC-OCT device. Results A total of 15 adult patients with histopathologically proven plaque psoriasis (N: 5), atopic eczema (N: 5) and lichen planus (N: 5) were included. In all cases, LC-OCT allowed the in vivo recognition of the main microscopic features of the examined inflammatory skin disease, with a strong correlation with histopathology. Conclusions Although future studies on larger series of patients are necessary, LC-OCT, based on these preliminary findings, may represent a promising tool in inflammatory skin disorders with potential applications including enhanced diagnosis, biopsy guidance, follow-up and treatment monitoring.

Automated summary

Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a novel non-invasive imaging technique that shows promise in the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory skin disorders. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of LC-OCT in plaque psoriasis, atopic eczema, and lichen planus, with strong correlation to histopathology.