Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography for in vivo visualization of morphological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma in a murine model

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Uffe H. Olesen
  • Camilla Foged
  • Kevin Jacobsen
  • Vinzent K. Ortner
  • Gabriella Fredman
  • Uwe Paasch
  • Hædersdal, Merete

Objectives: Non-invasive imaging with line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) can support the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) through visualization of morphological characteristics specific to skin cancer. We aimed to visualize prominent morphological characteristics of SCC using LC-OCT in a well-established murine SCC model. Materials and Methods: Nine hairless mice were exposed to ultraviolet radiation three times weekly for 9 months to induce SCC development. Visible SCC tumors (n = 9) were imaged with LC-OCT and the presence of 10 well-described morphological characteristics of SCC were evaluated in the scans by two physicians with adjudication by a third. Results: Overall, murine morphological characteristics resembled corresponding features previously reported in human SCCs. Interrupted dermal-epidermal junction occurred in 100% of tumors. In epidermis, the most frequently observed characteristics were severe epidermal dysplasia (100%) and tumor budding (89%). Common dermal characteristics included broad strands (100%) and collagen alterations (78%). Conclusion: LC-OCT imaging can be used to non-invasively visualize morphological characteristics specific to SCC in an in vivo preclinical model.

Original languageEnglish
JournalLasers in Surgery and Medicine
Volume56
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)14-18
Number of pages5
ISSN0196-8092
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

    Research areas

  • image features, non-invasive imaging, preclinical models, squamous cell carcinoma morphology

ID: 381065614