Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study

**Background**: Lentigo maligna (LM) characteristically has an ill-defined margin and may require multiple excisions to achieve complete excision with 5 mm margins. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive tool recognised as useful in the management of LM. The authors aimed to...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lipi Shukla, Louise Photiou, Alan Pham, Catriona McLean, Raquel Ruiz, Victoria Mar, John Kelly, Ramin Shayan, Frank Bruscino-Raiola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons 2020-10-01
Series:Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v3n2.165
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850219819007213568
author Lipi Shukla
Louise Photiou
Alan Pham
Catriona McLean
Raquel Ruiz
Victoria Mar
John Kelly
Ramin Shayan
Frank Bruscino-Raiola
author_facet Lipi Shukla
Louise Photiou
Alan Pham
Catriona McLean
Raquel Ruiz
Victoria Mar
John Kelly
Ramin Shayan
Frank Bruscino-Raiola
author_sort Lipi Shukla
collection DOAJ
description **Background**: Lentigo maligna (LM) characteristically has an ill-defined margin and may require multiple excisions to achieve complete excision with 5 mm margins. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive tool recognised as useful in the management of LM. The authors aimed to determine whether the use of RCM prior to surgical excision reliably increased the rate of complete excision when compared with standard surgical excision. **Methods**: This prospective pilot study included patients with biopsy-proven LM of the head and neck region who sought consultation for surgical management from May 2017 to May 2019 at the Victorian Melanoma Service, Melbourne. Patients were randomised to two groups based on the availability of RCM—Group 1, RCM-guided surgical excision, and Group 2, standard surgical excision. Outcomes were measured based on clinical markings and histopathological margins achieved and reported as RCM or surgical margin excess or deficit. Ethics approval for the study was obtained from the Research Governance Unit of The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. **Results**: Results demonstrated that RCM marking of lesion margins was in excess in 69 per cent of cases, in deficit in 22 per cent and accurate in nine per cent after histopathological analysis of the specimens. In comparison, lesions that were surgically marked were removed with margins in excess in 43 per cent of cases, in deficit in 11 per cent and accurate in 46 per cent. **Conclusion**: This pilot study demonstrates that RCM did not increase the accuracy of LM surgical excision in comparison with standard surgically marked excisions.
format Article
id doaj-art-2c58a02d59de4d62864a67378dca64f1
institution OA Journals
issn 2209-170X
language English
publishDate 2020-10-01
publisher Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
record_format Article
series Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
spelling doaj-art-2c58a02d59de4d62864a67378dca64f12025-08-20T02:07:16ZengAustralian Society of Plastic SurgeonsAustralasian Journal of Plastic Surgery2209-170X2020-10-013210.34239/ajops.v3n2.165Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot studyLipi ShuklaLouise PhotiouAlan PhamCatriona McLeanRaquel RuizVictoria MarJohn KellyRamin ShayanFrank Bruscino-Raiola**Background**: Lentigo maligna (LM) characteristically has an ill-defined margin and may require multiple excisions to achieve complete excision with 5 mm margins. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive tool recognised as useful in the management of LM. The authors aimed to determine whether the use of RCM prior to surgical excision reliably increased the rate of complete excision when compared with standard surgical excision. **Methods**: This prospective pilot study included patients with biopsy-proven LM of the head and neck region who sought consultation for surgical management from May 2017 to May 2019 at the Victorian Melanoma Service, Melbourne. Patients were randomised to two groups based on the availability of RCM—Group 1, RCM-guided surgical excision, and Group 2, standard surgical excision. Outcomes were measured based on clinical markings and histopathological margins achieved and reported as RCM or surgical margin excess or deficit. Ethics approval for the study was obtained from the Research Governance Unit of The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. **Results**: Results demonstrated that RCM marking of lesion margins was in excess in 69 per cent of cases, in deficit in 22 per cent and accurate in nine per cent after histopathological analysis of the specimens. In comparison, lesions that were surgically marked were removed with margins in excess in 43 per cent of cases, in deficit in 11 per cent and accurate in 46 per cent. **Conclusion**: This pilot study demonstrates that RCM did not increase the accuracy of LM surgical excision in comparison with standard surgically marked excisions.https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v3n2.165
spellingShingle Lipi Shukla
Louise Photiou
Alan Pham
Catriona McLean
Raquel Ruiz
Victoria Mar
John Kelly
Ramin Shayan
Frank Bruscino-Raiola
Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study
Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
title Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study
title_full Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study
title_fullStr Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study
title_full_unstemmed Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study
title_short Comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face: a pilot study
title_sort comparing preoperative mapping with reflectance confocal microscopy to surgical markings in lentigo maligna excision of the face a pilot study
url https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.v3n2.165
work_keys_str_mv AT lipishukla comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT louisephotiou comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT alanpham comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT catrionamclean comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT raquelruiz comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT victoriamar comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT johnkelly comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT raminshayan comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy
AT frankbruscinoraiola comparingpreoperativemappingwithreflectanceconfocalmicroscopytosurgicalmarkingsinlentigomalignaexcisionofthefaceapilotstudy