Cryosurgical management of basal cell carcinoma: in vivo
 follow-up using reflectance confocal microscopy

Background: Atypical basal cell carcinoma (BCC), characterized by equivocal dermoscopic features typical of malignant melanoma (MM), can be difficult to diagnose. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) enables in vivo imaging at nearly histological resolution. Objectives: To evaluate with RCM atypical melanocytic lesions identified in dermoscopy, according to common RCM criteria for the differential diagnosis of BCC, and to identify representative RCM parameters for superficial (sBCCs) and nonsuperficial (nsBCCs) basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients evaluated with RCM, selecting excised lesions classified at dermoscopy with ≥1 score from the re visited 7-point checklist, mimicking melanoma, registered between 2010 and 2016. Cluster analysis identified BCC subclassifications. Results: Of 178 atypical lesions, 34 lesions were diagnosed as BCCs with RCM. Lesions were confirmed BCCs with histopathology. Dermoscopic features included atypical network (55.9%) and regression structures (35.5%) associated with sBCCs, and an atypical vascular pattern (58.8%) and irregular blotches (58.8%) with nsBCCs. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified 2 clusters: cluster 1 (100% sBCCs) was characterized by the presence of cords connected to the epidermis (90%, p < 0.001), tumor islands located in the epidermis (100%, p < 0.001), smaller vascular diameter (100%, p < 0.001) and solar elastosis (90%, p = 0.017), and cluster 2 (nsBCCs 85%) was defined by the dermic location of tumor islands (87.5%, p < 0.001) with branch-like structures (70.8%, p = 0.007) and surrounding collagen (83.3%, p = 0.012), peripheral palisading (83.3%, p = 0.012) and coiled vascular morphology (79.2%, p < 0.001) with a larger vascular diameter (50%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: RCM is able to diagnose BCCs mimicking melanoma at dermoscopy and seems able to identify sBCCs and nsBCCs.

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A Retrospective Study of the Diagnostic Accuracy of In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis and Subtyping

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8040449 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 449 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mihai Lupu ◽

Iris Popa ◽

Vlad Voiculescu ◽

Daniel Boda ◽

Constantin Caruntu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Confocal Microscopy ◽

Basal Cell Carcinoma ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Basal Cell ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Tertiary Care Centers

Current national and European guidelines recommend distinct management approaches for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) based on tumor location, size, and histopathological subtype. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive skin imaging technique which may change the diagnostic pathway for BCC patients. This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RCM for BCC diagnosis, assess the predictive values of several confocal criteria in correctly classifying BCC subtypes, and evaluate the intraobserver reliability of RCM diagnosis for BCC. We conducted a retrospective study in two tertiary care centers in Bucharest, Romania. We included adults with clinically and dermoscopic suspect BCCs who underwent RCM and histopathological examination of excision specimens. For RCM examinations, we used the VivaScope 1500 and histopathology of the surgical excision specimen was the reference standard. Of the 123 cases included in the analysis, BCC was confirmed in 104 and excluded in 19 cases. RCM showed both high sensitivity (97.1%, 95% CI (91.80, 99.40)) and specificity (78.95%, 95% CI (54.43, 93.95)) for detecting BCC. Several RCM criteria were highly predictive for BCC subtypes: cords connected to the epidermis for superficial BCC, big tumor islands, peritumoral collagen bundles and increased vascularization for nodular BCC, and hyporefractile silhouettes for aggressive BCC. Excellent intraobserver agreement (κ = 0.909, p < 0.001) was observed. This data suggests that RCM could be used for preoperative diagnosis and BCC subtype classification in patients with suspected BCCs seen in tertiary care centers.

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