Line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography as a tool for three‐dimensional in vivo quantification of healthy epidermis: A pilot study

Julie Chauvel-Picard , Vincent Bérot , Linda Tognetti , Carmen Orte Cano , Margot Fontaine , Clément Lenoir , Javiera Pérez-Anker , Susana Puig , Arnaud Dubois (1) , Sandra Forestier , Jilliana Monnier , Randa Jdid , Gabriel Cazorla , Mélanie Pedrazzani , Antoine Sanchez , Sébastien Fischman (2) , Pietro Rubegni , Véronique del Marmol , Joseph Malvehy , Elisa Cinotti , Jean Perrot , Mariano Suppa

1 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Biophotonique
2 DAMAE - DAMAE Medical

Abstract Epidermal three‐dimensional (3D) topography/quantification has not been completely characterized yet. The recently developed line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) provides real‐time, high‐resolution, in‐vivo 3D imaging of the skin. This pilot study aimed at quantifying epidermal metrics (epidermal thicknesses, dermal‐epidermal junction [DEJ] undulation and keratinocyte number/shape/size) using 3D LC‐OCT. For each study participant (8 female, skin‐type‐II, younger/older volunteers), seven body sites were imaged with LC‐OCT. Epidermal metrics were calculated by segmentations and measurements assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) when appropriate. Thicknesses of epidermis/SC, DEJ undulation and keratinocyte nuclei volume varied across body sites. Evidence of keratinocyte maturation was observed in vivo: keratinocyte nuclei being small/spherical near the DEJ and flatter/elliptical near the skin surface. Skin microanatomy can be quantified by combining LC‐OCT and AI. This technology could be highly relevant to understand aging processes and conditions linked to epidermal disorders. Future clinical/research applications are to be expected in this scenario.

Domains: Physics [physics]

Julie Chauvel-Picard, Vincent Bérot, Linda Tognetti, Carmen Orte Cano, Margot Fontaine, et al.. Line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography as a tool for three‐dimensional in vivo quantification of healthy epidermis: A pilot study. Journal of Biophotonics, 2022, 15 (2), ⟨10.1002/jbio.202100236⟩. ⟨hal-04282333⟩