Ex-vivo confocal microscopy in clinical use for diagnostics and margin assessments of skin tumours

In the treatment of skin cancers, the regular histopathologic analysis is challenged by the novel ex vivo confocal microscopy which offers digital microscopy comparable to histopathology within 15-30 minutes. The purpose of this study is to determine its use in general dermatology.

Most skin cancers can be treated quickly with surgery, but it takes weeks until the lab results are ready. With our new microscope, we can do most of it in 30 minutes. But is it good enough?