The “Virtual Biopsy” of Cancerous Lesions in 3D: Non-Invasive Differentiation between Melanoma and Other Lesions Using Vibrational Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Early detection of skin cancer is of critical importance to provide five year survival rates that approach 99%. By 2050, one out of five Americans by age 70 will develop some form of skin cancer. This will result in a projected rate of 50 million skin biopsies per year given the current rate of escalation. In addition, the ability to differentiate between pigmented lesions and melanomas has proven a diagnostic challenge. While dermoscopy and visual analysis are useful in identifying many skin lesions, additional non-invasive techniques are needed to assist in the analysis of difficult to diagnose skin tumors. To augment dermoscopy data, we have developed 3D maps based on physical biomarker characteristics of benign and cancerous lesions using vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT). 3D images based on quantitative physical data involving changes in cellular and fibrous tissue stiffness along with changes in vascular quality are used to map and evaluate different types of cancers. 3D tumor maps constructed using quantitative VOCT data and OCT images have been used to characterize the differences between melanoma and other lesions. These characteristics can be used to plan the excision of difficult lesions where extensive surgery may be needed to remove the entire tumor in one step. In addition, it is now possible to use dermoscopy and VOCT to non-invasively differentiate between different cancerous lesion types using measurements of the resonant frequency of new cellular and vascular peaks. Quantitative VOCT information along with dermoscopic findings can be collected and analyzed remotely using artificial intelligence to improve cancerous tissue diagnosis.

Non-invasive characterization of different types of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) using vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT): Can early lesions as small as 0.05 mm be identified by VOCT?

“…Recently we reported the results of studies involving use of vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT) to study the stiffness of the components of normal skin, actinic keratosis, BCC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma [15][16][17]. The technique uses audible sound and infrared light to noninvasively measure the resonant frequency of skin components and then convert the measurements into a stiffness (modulus) map for each of these lesions [17].…”

“…Recently we reported the results of studies involving use of vibrational optical coherence tomography (VOCT) to study the stiffness of the components of normal skin, actinic keratosis, BCC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma [15][16][17]. The technique uses audible sound and infrared light to noninvasively measure the resonant frequency of skin components and then convert the measurements into a stiffness (modulus) map for each of these lesions [17]. The results of these studies suggest that the location and physical biomarker characteristics of skin cancers are different than those found in normal skin and benign lesions and can be identified virtually using VOCT [15][16][17].…”

“…The technique uses audible sound and infrared light to noninvasively measure the resonant frequency of skin components and then convert the measurements into a stiffness (modulus) map for each of these lesions [17]. The results of these studies suggest that the location and physical biomarker characteristics of skin cancers are different than those found in normal skin and benign lesions and can be identified virtually using VOCT [15][16][17]. Benign skin lesions have major peaks at 50Hz (normal cells), 150Hz (normal blood vessels) and 100Hz (dermal collagen) [15].…”

“…Benign skin lesions have major peaks at 50Hz (normal cells), 150Hz (normal blood vessels) and 100Hz (dermal collagen) [15]. Precancerous actinic keratosis (AK) has additional peaks at 80 Hz (new epidermally derived cells) and 130Hz (new blood vessels), and cancerous lesions (BCC, SCC and melanoma) have peaks at 80Hz, 130Hz and 260Hz (new fibrotic tissue) (15)(16)(17). 3D images created based on changes in cellular and fibrous tissue stiffness along with changes in vascular quality can be used to map and evaluate different types of cancers including melanoma (17).…”

“…Precancerous actinic keratosis (AK) has additional peaks at 80 Hz (new epidermally derived cells) and 130Hz (new blood vessels), and cancerous lesions (BCC, SCC and melanoma) have peaks at 80Hz, 130Hz and 260Hz (new fibrotic tissue) (15)(16)(17). 3D images created based on changes in cellular and fibrous tissue stiffness along with changes in vascular quality can be used to map and evaluate different types of cancers including melanoma (17). While VOCT cannot identify changes at the cellular level, it can quantitatively identify the new vessel and fibrous tissue deposition that are associated with different cancers and it can be used to differentiate between melanomas and other cancerous lesions (17).…”