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Label-Free Imaging of Female Genital Tract Melanocytic Lesions With Pump-Probe Microscopy: A Promising Diagnostic Tool.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Robles, FE; Deb, S; Fischer, MC; Warren, WS; Selim, MA
Published in: J Low Genit Tract Dis
April 2017

OBJECTIVES: Melanomas of the female genital tract present a unique clinical challenge. Not only are these lesions in an anatomically sensitive area, but also they tend to be multifocal and have high recurrence rates. Furthermore, several benign melanocytic proliferations resemble early-stage melanoma clinically and/or histopathologically. Thus, there is a significant need for additional tools that can help correctly diagnose and stage these lesions. Here, we quantitatively and nondestructively analyze the chemical composition of melanin in excised pigmented lesions of the female genital tract using pump-probe microscopy, a high-resolution optical imaging technique that is sensitive to many biochemical properties of melanin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one thin (~5 μm) tissue sections previously excised from female genital tract melanocytic lesions were imaged with pump-probe microscopy and analyzed. RESULTS: We find significant quantitative differences in melanin type and structure between melanoma and nonmalignant melanocytic proliferations. Our analysis also suggests a link between the molecular signatures of melanins and lesion-specific genetic mutations. Finally, significant differences are found between metastatic and nonmetastatic melanomas. The limitations of this work include the fact that molecular information is restricted to melanin pigment and the sample size is relatively small. CONCLUSIONS: Pump-probe microscopy provides unique information regarding the biochemical composition of genital tract melanocytic lesions, which can be used to improve the diagnosis and staging of vulvar melanomas.

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Published In

J Low Genit Tract Dis

DOI

EISSN

1526-0976

Publication Date

April 2017

Volume

21

Issue

2

Start / End Page

137 / 144

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Staining and Labeling
  • Pathology
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Microscopy
  • Melanoma
  • Melanins
  • Humans
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
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MLA
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Robles, F. E., Deb, S., Fischer, M. C., Warren, W. S., & Selim, M. A. (2017). Label-Free Imaging of Female Genital Tract Melanocytic Lesions With Pump-Probe Microscopy: A Promising Diagnostic Tool. J Low Genit Tract Dis, 21(2), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1097/LGT.0000000000000290
Robles, Francisco E., Sanghamitra Deb, Martin C. Fischer, Warren S. Warren, and Maria Angelica Selim. “Label-Free Imaging of Female Genital Tract Melanocytic Lesions With Pump-Probe Microscopy: A Promising Diagnostic Tool.J Low Genit Tract Dis 21, no. 2 (April 2017): 137–44. https://doi.org/10.1097/LGT.0000000000000290.
Robles FE, Deb S, Fischer MC, Warren WS, Selim MA. Label-Free Imaging of Female Genital Tract Melanocytic Lesions With Pump-Probe Microscopy: A Promising Diagnostic Tool. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2017 Apr;21(2):137–44.
Robles, Francisco E., et al. “Label-Free Imaging of Female Genital Tract Melanocytic Lesions With Pump-Probe Microscopy: A Promising Diagnostic Tool.J Low Genit Tract Dis, vol. 21, no. 2, Apr. 2017, pp. 137–44. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000290.
Robles FE, Deb S, Fischer MC, Warren WS, Selim MA. Label-Free Imaging of Female Genital Tract Melanocytic Lesions With Pump-Probe Microscopy: A Promising Diagnostic Tool. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2017 Apr;21(2):137–144.

Published In

J Low Genit Tract Dis

DOI

EISSN

1526-0976

Publication Date

April 2017

Volume

21

Issue

2

Start / End Page

137 / 144

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Staining and Labeling
  • Pathology
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Microscopy
  • Melanoma
  • Melanins
  • Humans
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female
  • Female