[In vivo reflectance-mode confocal laser microscopy: basic principles and clinical and research employments in dermatology].

Reflectance-mode confocal scanning laser microscopy is a novel, non-invasive imaging technique which permits real time visualization of cellular components in the skin at a resolution close to that of conventional histology. It has been widely used in the diagnosis of both benign and malignant tumors of the skin. In recent years it was also employed in the investigation of a variety of inflammatory and infectious skin conditions. The non-invasive nature of the procedure allows examination of multiple lesions and/ or repetitive sampling of one lesion over time, making it an excellent tool for followup and for monitoring treatment outcome in medical and cosmetic dermatology. This review summarizes the main indications for the use of this novel technique in clinical and experimental dermatology.