Advanced skin cancer treatment thanks to non-invasive imaging technology

Press release (27/05/2024) 

Advanced skin cancer treatment thanks to non-invasive imaging technology

Brussel, 27th May 2024 - As the fine weather returns we like to get out in the sun. Although the sun is beneficial in terms of vitamin D and mental well-being, overexposure can bring risks. Ultraviolet rays damage our cells and this can encourage the development of skin cancers. The only hospital in Belgium using a combination of two ultra-precision machines to permit real-time diagnosis, the Brussels University Hospital is able to provide a rapid response to these types of cancer.

Innovative machines that remove the need for a biopsy.
The standard diagnosis procedure consists of a visual dermoscopic examination and a biopsy. A long, costly and invasive process. To avoid biopsies and to refine the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, the Department of Dermatology now uses non-invasive imaging techniques. The Brussels University Hospital is the only hospital in Belgium using a combination of two ultra-precision machines to permit real-time diagnosis without recourse to an external laboratory: the confocal microscope and LC-OCT.

A rapid and ultra-precise diagnosis
Thanks to a 3D reconstruction from a 2D image, simply placing the microscope on the skin makes it possible to establish whether or not a lesion is cancerous. An artificial intelligence tool also refines the doctor’s diagnosis and detects suspect lesions. In addition to their diagnostic role, these machines are an aid to decision-making and treatment follow up. Surgery is often necessary when melanoma or carcinoma is detected. The LC-OCT makes it possible to determine more precise presurgical margins, guaranteeing that all the cancer cells are removed. It also makes it possible to check treatment effectiveness by identifying suspect zones that remain after treatment. These two high-tech tools enable the Brussels University Hospital to ensure a more rapid and more precise response to skin cancer for its patients.
The Dermatology Department's non-invasive skin imaging team is led by Prof Mariano Suppa and Prof Véronique del Marmol, and includes several young doctors who are experts in this field.

• To make an appointment:
  • Jules Bordet Institute Screening Clinic:
    Tel : +32 (0)2 541 30 55
    Email : accueil_depistage@hubruxelles.be
  • Erasmus Hospital Department of Dermatology:
    Tel : +32 (0)2 555 35 07
    Tel : +32 (0)2 555 36 57
    E-mail: Cons.Dermato.erasme@hubruxelles.be
  • The Children’s Hospital Department of Dermatology:
    Tel : +32 (0)2 477 31 69

PRESS CONTACT
Communication officer : Clara Mercier
E-mail : clara.mercier@hubruxelles.be
communication@hubruxelles.be
Tel : +32 (0)2 541 31 39