Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: An Effective Diagnostic Tool for Dermatophytic Infections

Current methods for diagnosing dermatophytic infections have various drawbacks. Analysis via skin scrapings and biopsies can be invasive and/or take too long to yield results. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is an emerging in vivo imaging technology that can potentially be used to diagnose cutaneous dermatophytic infections. This modality provides high-resolution images of the skin extending to the level of the superficial reticular dermis that could reveal the presence of fungal hyphae. In this retrospective chart review, we investigated the application of RCM as a diagnostic tool in the setting of a private practice. Images were used to diagnose dermatophyte infections and the results were compared to those of other established diagnostic methods. We found RCM to be a potentially effective and highly sensitive tool in the diagnosis of cutaneous dermatophytic infections.