Raman Spectroscopy Reveals Biophysical Markers in Skin Cancer Surgical Margins

The study explored the use of Raman spectroscopy (RS) to identify biophysical differences between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and normal skin structures in surgical margins. Using skin samples from 14 patients undergoing Mohs surgery, RS was employed to acquire images and analyze spectral data through K-means clustering and a biophysical model. The findings indicated significant differences in the fit coefficients of nucleus, collagen, triolein, keratin, and elastin between BCC and normal skin, suggesting RS's potential for detecting biophysical changes in resection margins. This supported the development of diagnostic algorithms for RS's future intraoperative use in Mohs surgery.