Differentiation of basal cell carcinoma and healthy skin using multispectral modulation autofluorescence imaging: A pilot study

An approach for differentiating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and healthy skin by combining a multispectral modulation autofluorescence imaging with the linear discriminant analysis has been proposed. The experimental setup, which employs a 365-nm narrowband excitation, 4 replaceable bandpass filters and a digital camera, has been assembled and applied to study freshly excised samples of BCC. In the experimental setup, modulation of the UV-excitation and demodulation of the visible light images allow for both increasing a signal-to-noise ratio and suppressing a non-fluorescence background in the autofluorescence images of tissues. The observed results demonstrate an ability for distinguishing both ordinary and keratinized BCC from healthy skin justifying the perspectives of the multispectral modulation autofluorescence imaging use for non-invasive and intraoperative diagnosis of BCC and other low-pigmented malignancies of the skin.