Medical imaging is an important tool in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer; however, it carries a small risk of tissue damage due to the use of radiation. Recently, imaging methods have been developed that use electromagnetic radiation at terahertz (THz) frequencies, which are located in a region of the spectrum that make it safe for the in vivo imaging of humans.
Additionally, there is a pressing need in the surgical field to improve the precision, control and selectivity of skin cancer procedures. For example, in the UK, the incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has increased by approximately 250% since the 1990s, with 137,000 new cases each year. Delayed diagnosis and incomplete tumour excision are key drivers of patient morbidity, and squander limited surgical resources. If the extent of the tumour could be accurately determined, using THz imaging prior to surgery, the procedure would be faster, and grafts better planned.
In vivo images from a case study of BCC patients in 2004 suggested that THz imaging could detect skin cancer hidden beneath the skin. Spectroscopic studies by Emma MacPherson (Co-investigator) and colleagues showed that the fundamental THz properties of excised tumours are statistically significantly different from healthy tissue, primarily due to changes in water content.
The current study will evaluate the effectiveness of the THz technology during real-world routine surgical procedures for the excision of suspected skin cancers. Whereas the main objective is to explore feasibility, test trial procedures and refine intervention delivery, our secondary objective is to assess whether Skinometry can quantify skin hydration and indicate the extent of BCC skin cancer, melanoma in situ or lentigo maligna pre-cancerous lesions before excision. We will be recruiting patients scheduled for Plastic Surgery at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, selected based on clinical diagnosis. Patients will not be randomised.