Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography coupled with artificial intelligence algorithms as tool to investigate wound healing: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded pilot study.

Background: Ablative fractional photothermolysis serves as an excellent in vivo model for studying wound healing. The advent of non-invasive imaging devices, such as line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), enhances this model by enabling detailed monitoring of skin wound healing over time. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms are revolutionizing the evaluation of clinical images by providing detailed analyses that are unfeasible manually.

Comparing Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy on the In Vivo Healing Process of Lesions Induced by Fractional Photothermolysis.

Background: The advent of ablative fractional photothermolysis has revolutionized laser dermatology by providing a method to produce well-standardized, precise, and repeatable microscopic lesions. These wounds typically heal within 1-3 weeks, depending on the body site, with a minimal risk of permanent scarring. This positions ablative fractional photothermolysis as an exemplary in vivo model for studying the skin's wound healing processes.