Extended depth-of-field wide-field fluorescence microscopy with a micro-mirror array lens system for versatile cellular examination.

We present a versatile extended depth-of-field (EDOF) wide-field fluorescence microscopy using a new, to the best of our knowledge, active device, micro-mirror array lens system (MALS) for calibration-free and orientation-insensitive EDOF imaging. The MALS changed the focal plane during image acquisition, and the system could be operated in any orientation. Two EDOF imaging modes of high-speed accumulation and low-speed surface sectioning were implemented.

Open-top Bessel beam two-photon light sheet microscopy for three-dimensional pathology.

Nondestructive pathology based on three-dimensional (3D) optical microscopy holds promise as a complement to traditional destructive hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slide-based pathology by providing cellular information in high throughput manner. However, conventional techniques provided superficial information only due to shallow imaging depths. Herein, we developed open-top two-photon light sheet microscopy (OT-TP-LSM) for intraoperative 3D pathology.

Exploring Molecular Genetic Alterations and RAF Fusions in Melanoma: A Belvarafenib Expanded Access Program in Patients with RAS/RAF-Mutant Melanoma.

Background: Melanoma incidence is on the rise in East Asia, yet studies of the molecular landscape are lacking in this population. We examined patients with melanoma who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) at a single tertiary center in South Korea, focusing on patients harboring NRAS or RAF alterations who received belvarafenib, a pan-RAF dimer inhibitor, through the Expanded Access Program (EAP).

Patients And Methods: Data were collected from 192 patients with melanoma who underwent NGS between November 2017 and May 2023.

Looking Beyond the Hutchinson Sign: A Retrospective Study of Clinical Factors Indicating the Presence and Invasiveness of Nail Unit Melanoma in Patients With Longitudinal Melanonychia.

Background: The data underlying this article are available in the article.Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) presents a challenge because nail unit melanoma (NUM) must be considered as a differential diagnosis. Because nail matrix biopsy may result in nail dystrophy, it is important to distinguish NUM from LM.

Comparison of full-thickness skin graft and punch grafting in the reconstruction of plantar defects.

Acral melanoma commonly occurs on weight-bearing areas of the sole. Reconstruction of such areas presents a surgical challenge due to limited availability and mobility of local skin. Thus, we aimed to compare the scar outcome of full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) and punch grafting in the reconstruction of plantar defects after melanoma surgery.

Successful Treatment of Recurrent Earlobe Keloid Through Removal of Concealed Underlying Epidermoid Cysts: A Case Report.

In modern clinical practice, earlobe keloids demonstrate a high cure rate through surgical intervention and suitable adjuvant therapies. Furthermore, the concurrence of keloids and epidermoid cysts is uncommon, potentially attributed to the lack of skin appendages within keloid tissue. This case report presents the successful treatment of a recurrent earlobe keloid through the removal of concealed underlying epidermoid cysts.

High-contrast visualization of human skin cancers with combined reflectance confocal and moxifloxacin-based two-photon microscopy: An ex vivo study.

Background And Objectives: Precise determination of cancer margin during skin cancer surgery is crucial for complete resection and further clinical prognosis. Although reflection confocal microscopy (RCM) has been used for perioperative guiding, its reflection contrast has limitations in detecting cancer cells in the dermis. We previously developed combined reflection confocal (RC) and moxifloxacin-based two-photon (MB-TP) microscopy for sensitive cancer detection by using multiple contrast mechanisms.

Discrimination of Invasive Human Skin Tumor Using an Ultrafast ATP-Proton AND-Gate Probe.

Cancer cells undergo unscheduled proliferation resulting from dysregulation of the cell cycle, and hence, evaluation in tumor is of keen interest to examine the invasiveness and recurrence of cancer in the lesion. Molecular probes capable of discriminating actively growing tumor from resting ones remain unexplored despite their vast importance. Here, we describe a novel strategy to visualize invasive areas in tumor with a fluorescence probe that implements synergistic fluorescence response toward the slightly acidic environment of tumor and an ATP-abundant nature of actively growing cells.

Prediction of Immune-Checkpoint Blockade Monotherapy Response in Patients With Melanoma Based on Easily Accessible Clinical Indicators.

Background: Immune checkpoint blocker (ICB) has shown significant clinical activity in melanoma. However, there are no clinically approved biomarkers to aid patient selection. We aimed to identify patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma who are likely to benefit from ICB monotherapy using easily accessible clinical indicators.

Cidofovir Intralesional Injection for Recalcitrant Common Warts: A Comparison with Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate Intralesional Injection.

Background: A novel treatment method is required for recalcitrant common warts.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the complete wart removal rate of cidofovir, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, intralesional injection and sodium tetradecyl sulfate intralesional injection.

Methods: This retrospective study included 45 patients with recalcitrant common warts on the hands and/or feet, treated with cidofovir or sodium tetradecyl sulfate intralesional injection.

Initial topical monotherapy may increase the risk of recurrence in patients with extramammary Paget's disease.

Although topical therapies are used to treat extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD), reliable treatment outcomes and the effects of these therapies on subsequent surgical treatments are unclear. To assess the clinical outcomes of topical treatment of EMPD and establish the treatment guidelines the medical records of 166 patients diagnosed with EMPD were retrospectively reviewed. The recurrence rate was evaluated according to the previous use of topical agents.

Hypopigmentation in Extramammary Paget Disease Is an Important Prognostic Factor for High Recurrence Rate and Poor Surgical Outcome.

Background: Several studies have reported the presence of hypopigmentation in extramammary Paget disease (EMPD). However, an in-depth analysis regarding its clinical implication is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of EMPD in the Korean population and to determine the implication of hypopigmentation on clinical outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence in Cutaneous Oncology.

Skin cancer, previously known to be a common disease in Western countries, is becoming more common in Asian countries. Skin cancer differs from other carcinomas in that it is visible to our eyes. Although skin biopsy is essential for the diagnosis of skin cancer, decisions regarding whether or not to conduct a biopsy are made by an experienced dermatologist.

High-speed combined reflectance confocal and moxifloxacin based two-photon microscopy.

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive high-resolution optical imaging technique used in clinical settings as a diagnostic method. However, RCM has limited diagnostic ability by providing non-specific morphological information only based on reflection contrast. Various multimodal imaging techniques have been developed to compensate the limitations of RCM, but multimodal techniques are often slow in imaging speed compared to RCM alone.

Advantages of A Hairline Incision for the Excision of Forehead Lipomas.

Background: Direct incision (DI) for forehead lipoma removal has a considerable risk of damaging the vertical vessels and leaving a visible scar.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of the hairline incision (HI) in minimizing scars and neurovascular damage.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis was done for 30 patients with forehead lipomas who underwent excision between 2011 and 2019 at the Severance Hospital of the Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.

Skin Imaging Using Ultrasound Imaging, Optical Coherence Tomography, Confocal Microscopy, and Two-Photon Microscopy in Cutaneous Oncology.

With the recognition of dermoscopy as a new medical technology and its available fee assessment in Korea comes an increased interest in imaging-based dermatological diagnosis. For the dermatologist, who treats benign tumors and malignant skin cancers, imaging-based evaluations can assist with determining the surgical method and future follow-up plans. The identification of the tumor's location and the existence of blood vessels can guide safe treatment and enable the use of minimal incisions.

Male sex and Breslow thickness are important risk factors for recurrence of localized melanoma in Korean populations.

Background: Predicting the recurrence of localized melanoma is important; however, studies investigating risk factors for recurrence of localized melanoma are lacking in Asian populations.

Objective: To identify risk factors for recurrence of localized melanoma in Korean patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with cutaneous melanoma without evidence of metastasis from 2000 to 2017.