Clinical Applications of In Vivo and Ex Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) has been introduced in clinical settings as a tool enabling quasi-histologic view of given tissue, without performing biopsy. It applied to many fields medicine mainly the skin and analysis cancers for both vivo ex CLSM. In CLSM involves reflectance mode, which is based on refractive index cell structures serving endogenous chromophores, reaching depth exploration 200 ?m. proven increase diagnostic accuracy cancers, melanoma non-melanoma. While histopathologic examination gold standard diagnosis, alone addition dermoscopy, contributes reduction number excised lesions exclude melanoma, improve margin recognition lentigo maligna, tissue sparing excisions. Ex can be performed fluorescent mode. Fluorescence confocal “real-time” pathological freshly specimens purposes evaluation clearance after excision Mohs surgery. Further prospective interventional studies using might contribute knowledge about its application, reproducing real-life settings.