Pigmented skin lesions by VIS-NIR reflectance spectroscopy

Abstract

The increase in the incidence of pigmented skin lesions in the last decade together. with the fact that early detection could allow a mortality reduction has led to the development of spectrometric diagnostic techniques. These techniques are based on the fact that the presence of malignant cells will alter the optical characteristics of epidermis with respect to the healthy one and a different reflectance spectrum will appear. The clinical observation by the specialist is in this way reinforced by a technique with improved specificity and sensitivity. The aim of this work is to obtain a reflectance spectra database of both lesion and healthy skin, which permits to establish algorithms and discrimination rules for a more objective differentiation of pigmented skin lesions. Our measure system consists of a portable visible near infrared spectrometer, a tungsten halogen lamp and fibre optics reflection probes. The system parameters and their variability have been tested in steady state conditions. A reproducibility study of both normal and pigmented skin diffuse reflectance spectra has been carried out. Finally, a small-scale study of clinically evaluated lesions has been conducted. The results followed the analysis of the collected data are presented in this work.