Abstract

Traditional histology is the gold standard for diagnosing disease. However, biopsy results can take several days to return. Patients may benefit from a faster time to diagnosis. Ex vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has a has resolution close to traditional histology, can be used in vivo or ex vivo, and is already part of some clinical practices which gives near histologic images within minutes after procedures. It can be used to assess tumor margins and has been used to assess pathology in real time for other malignancies. Other reported applications include nail lesions, cutaneous infections, and autoimmune bullous disorders. With newer technologies, digital staining from fusion images of reflectance and fluorescence modes are used to produce colors and structures similar to what is seen on H&E. Recent studies have shown that new microscopes can produce H&E-like images superior to those produced by older devices in just a few minutes. Ex vivo CM shows promising potential in surgical pathology. Herein, we will present various cases from our practice which have been imaged with ex vivo confocal microscopy and discuss its applications. Widespread use of ex vivo CM may lead to changes in traditional pathology techniques, provide immediate diagnosis, and help tailor management for dermatology providers and their patients.

Financial Disclosure:
The poster abstract presenter listed below disclosed the following information about their financial interests. The ASDP Ethics Committee has reviewed these disclosures and determined that no conflicts of interest exist between financial relationships and educational content being presented.

Speaker	Company	Affiliation/Relationship
Babar Rao, MD	Caliber Imaging & Diagnostics	Consultant