Evaluation of actinically induced labial lesions using relfectance confocal microscopy

Abstract

Actinic cheilitis is considered as the incipient and superficial presentation of actinicaly induced squamous cell carcinoma of the lip vermillion. In a recent study, we have shown that cases of actinic cheilitis with difuse clinical aspects may bear important histological alterations. In these cases, clinical evaluation is difficult and non-invasive methods to exmine the lip vermillion are required (NICO et al, 2007). Reflectance confocal microscopy (CRM) has been considered useful in the evaluation of actinically induced cutaneous lesions, with high sensitivity and sensibility in the diagnosis of these lesions. Its use in the evaluation of actinic cheilitis has not been studied. Therefore we propose an investigation of the aspects of actinic cheilitis using CRM. These aspects will be compared with the histopathological alterations of the biospied lesions in each case. The study aims to establish morphological criteria using the images generated by the RCM and to analyse if RCM can be used as an adjunct tool to clinical diagnosis and monitoring of actinic cheilitis. (AU)