Reflectance confocal microscopy in pediatric dermatology: A state-of-the-art review

Randy F Ko; Aimee C Smidt; John R Durkin

doi:10.1111/pde.14837

Reflectance confocal microscopy in pediatric dermatology: A state-of-the-art review

Pediatr Dermatol. 2021 Nov;38(6):1488-1499. doi: 10.1111/pde.14837. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Authors

Randy F Ko¹, Aimee C Smidt^{1

2

3}, John R Durkin^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
² Department of Dermatology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.

PMID: 34651341
DOI: 10.1111/pde.14837

Abstract

Reflectance confocal microscopy is an innovative imaging modality, which noninvasively provides an optical image to aid in the diagnosis of skin lesions. While performing a skin biopsy for histopathologic analysis is the gold standard to definitively diagnose skin disease, this may prove to be more difficult in the pediatric population. This will occasionally necessitate sedation or general anesthesia as an approach, which carries a number of different risks. Reflectance confocal microscopy is an exciting new avenue in the support of diagnosing skin pathology, with the goal of improving pediatric patient tolerance and experience when examining epidermal and superficial dermal skin lesions. This review discusses the utility of reflectance confocal microscopy for pediatric dermatology patients pertaining to melanocytic and non-melanocytic skin neoplasms and inflammatory and infectious skin diseases in children.

Keywords: Neoplasms-benign; Neoplasms-malignant; Nevi-melanocytic; inflammatory disorders; insect bite/bite reactions; reflectance confocal microscopy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Dermatology*
Humans
Microscopy, Confocal