In vivo characterization of healthy human skin with a novel, non‐invasive imaging technique: line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography

J Monnier , L Tognetti , M Miyamoto , M Suppa , E Cinotti , M Fontaine , J Perez , C Orte Cano , O Yélamos , S Puig , Arnaud Dubois (1) , P Rubegni , V del Marmol , J Malvehy , J L Perrot

1 Laboratoire Charles Fabry / Biophotonique

Background Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a non-invasive optical technique recently developed for skin examination in vivo. It provides real-time, high-resolution vertical images with an isotropic resolution of ~1 µm and a penetration depth of ~500 µm. Objectives Study goals were to qualitatively/quantitatively characterize healthy skin at different body sites using LC-OCT. Methods The skin of young healthy volunteers was imaged with a handheld LC-OCT imaging device. Seven body sites (back of the hand, forehead, cheek, nose, chest, forearm and back) were investigated. An independent qualitative [cutaneous structures' description; visibility of keratinocytes' nuclei and dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ)] and quantitative [stratum corneum (SC)/epidermal thicknesses; height of dermal papillae] assessment of the LC-OCT images was performed. Results A total of 88 LC-OCT images were collected from 29 participants (20 females; nine males; mean age 25.9 years). Keratinocytes' nuclei and DEJ were visible in the totality of images. The different layers of the epidermis and the remaining cutaneous structures/findings were visualized. Body sites-related variability was detected for SC/epidermal thicknesses and height of dermal papillae. Inter-observer agreement was excellent (SC thickness), good-to-excellent (epidermal thickness) and moderate-to-good (papillae). Conclusions Line-field confocal-OCT provides non-invasive, real-time imaging of the skin in vivo with deep penetration and high resolution, enabling the visualization of single cells. The histology-like vertical view provides an easy way to recognize/measure different cutaneous structures/findings. LC-OCT appears as a promising technique for the examination of physiological/pathological skin.

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]

J Monnier, L Tognetti, M Miyamoto, M Suppa, E Cinotti, et al.. In vivo characterization of healthy human skin with a novel, non‐invasive imaging technique: line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020, 34, pp.2914 - 2921. ⟨10.1111/jdv.16857⟩. ⟨hal-04282349⟩