Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography of psoriasis, eczema and lichen planus: a case series with histopathological correlation

Background: Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a novel, non-invasive technique that provides in vivo, high-resolution images in both vertical and horizontal sections. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate LC-OCT imaging in some inflammatory disorders and to correlate the resulting features with histopathology. Methods: The retrospective study included patients with histopathological confirmed diagnosis of plaque psoriasis, atopic eczema and lichen planus, who were imaged with LC-OCT before the biopsy. LC-OCT was performed with the commercially available LC-OCT device. Results: A total of 15 adult patients with histopathologically proven plaque psoriasis (N: 5), atopic eczema (N: 5) and lichen planus (N: 5) were included. In all cases, LC-OCT allowed the in vivo recognition of the main microscopic features of the examined inflammatory skin disease, with a strong correlation with histopathology. Conclusions: Although future studies on larger series of patients are necessary, LC-OCT, based on these preliminary findings, may represent a promising tool in inflammatory skin disorders with potential applications including enhanced diagnosis, biopsy guidance, follow-up and treatment monitoring.