Large Blinded Clinical Study Achieves High Accuracy For The Diagnosis Of Melanoma Using In Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Main Category: Melanoma / Skin Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 19 Sep 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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A landmark publication that appeared in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reports the results of a large, two site blinded clinical study. The paper is entitled "The Impact of In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for the Diagnostic Accuracy of Melanoma and Equivocal Melanocytic Lesions."

The study, lead by Dr. Giovanni Pellacani, contained a total of 351 equivocal melanocytic lesions that were difficult for expert dermoscopists to diagnose. 136 of the 351 lesions were malignant melanomas. The highest sensitivity demonstrated by confocal microscopy was 96.3%. The highest accuracy corresponded to a sensitivity of 91.9% and a specificity of 69.3%. The standard of comparison for the study was biopsy of all 351 lesions, followed by traditional pathological examination.

"By giving reliable diagnostic information comparable to histology, confocal imaging represents the only feasible alternative to biopsy in the decision-making process faced by dermatologists examining melanocytic lesions," said Dr. Giovanni Pellacani, Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, one of the world's leading in-vivo confocal imaging medical researchers. "Consequently, in vivo confocal microscopy is used at Modena and in several other melanoma clinics in Europe for the analysis of melanocytic lesions," Dr. Pellacani continued.

Images Acquired from Lucid VivaScopes(R) in 5 to 10 minutes

"The images in this study were acquired using VivaScope(R) confocal microscopes developed and manufactured by Lucid Inc., of Rochester, New York," said Jay Eastman, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Lucid, Inc. "This study represents a major clinical milestone in the transition of confocal imaging from a basic research tool to a diagnostic medical device being used routinely for evaluation of melanocytic lesions. Imaging a single lesion using the VivaScope(R) required just 5 to 10 minutes according to the authors," continued Eastman, "which makes it practical for everyday use in private dermatology practices worldwide."

Study Detailed in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology

The entire paper recounting the study can be found in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2007), 0, 000-000, doi: 10.1038/sj.jid.5700993, "The Impact of In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy for the Diagnostic Accuracy of Melanoma and Equivocal Melanocytic Lesions," authors Giovanni Pellacani, Pascale Guitera, Caterina Longo, Michelle Avramidis, Stefania Seidenari and Scott Menzies.

Authors Pellacani, Longo, and Seidenari are of the Department of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Guitera, Avramidis, and Menzies are of the Faculty of Medicine, Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre, Sydney Cancer Centre and Dermatology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

This paper builds on the results of an earlier pilot study that was published in the December 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, beginning on page 979 of that issue.

About Lucid Inc.

Lucid Inc., based in Rochester, New York, USA, is a medical device and information company dedicated to creating innovative cellular imaging technology and using the Internet to securely deliver accurate, real-time VivaScope(R) cellular resolution images to medical professionals. When coupled with its digital VivaNet(TM) system, the company's ability to image in-vivo (living) tissue will aid medical practitioners and pathologists in skin cancer screening with clarity, speed and patient comfort. For more information about Lucid Inc., visit http://www.Lucid-tech.com. Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Lucid Inc.
http://www.Lucid-tech.com