In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Applied to Acral Melanocytic Lesions: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: Acral melanocytic lesions often pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for many clinicians. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is an imaging technique widely used for the assessment of skin cancers. The aim of this review is to explore the applicability of RCM for the diagnosis o...

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Published in:Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 19; p. 2134
Main Authors: Chello, Camilla, Cappilli, Simone, Pellegrino, Luca, Michelini, Simone, Palmisano, Gerardo, Gemma, Giuseppe, Salvi, Marisa, Cantisani, Carmen, Di Stefani, Alessandro, Peris, Ketty, Pellacani, Giovanni
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.10.2024
MDPI
Subjects:
acral lentiginous melanoma
Algorithms
Asymmetry
clinical diagnosis
Lasers
Medical prognosis
Melanoma
Microscopy
reflectance confocal microscopy
Skin
Systematic Review
clinical diagnosis
reflectance confocal microscopy
acral lentiginous melanoma
ISSN:2075-4418, 2075-4418
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Background: Acral melanocytic lesions often pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for many clinicians. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is an imaging technique widely used for the assessment of skin cancers. The aim of this review is to explore the applicability of RCM for the diagnosis of nevi and melanoma on the acral sites. Methods: Study selection was conducted based on the application of RCM for acral melanocytic lesions. All types of articles (original articles, short reports, and single case reports) were included in the analysis following PRISMA updated guidelines. Results: The search retrieved 18 papers according to the selection criteria; after removing duplicate records and additional articles by one or more of the exclusion criteria, a total of seven studies were carefully evaluated. Conclusions: RCM seems a valuable and useful additional tool for the diagnosis of acral melanocytic lesions, and its use may decrease the need for invasive procedures to some extent. Visualization of deeper layers may be achieved through mechanical removal of the superficial stratum corneum.
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ISSN:2075-4418
2075-4418
DOI:10.3390/diagnostics14192134