LASER-DOPPLER PERFUSION IMAGING OF EYELID SKIN

We report an initial laser Doppler perfusion study of the eyelids and compare the results with those of other cutaneous regions. Eleven heal thy subjects with no prior medical or surgical history, or eyelid malp osition underwent laser Doppler perfusion scanning of six skin locatio ns: right forearm, right middle fingertip, right upper eyelid, right l ower eyelid, left upper eyelid, and left lower eyelid. Cutaneous perfu sion in the four eyelid locations and right middle fingertip were stat istically similar to each other but significantly higher than that in the right forearm (p = 0.002). Also, mean perfusion in pretarsal skin was >50% than that in preseptal skin (p = 0.002). In addition, in an e yelid with histopathologically documented basal cell carcinoma, cutane ous perfusion was significantly higher than the mean of the normal eye lids (p = 0.002). Eyelids are perfused at the same high rate as are ot her regions of the head, and significantly higher than low flow region s, such as the extremities. Future application of this laser Doppler p erfusion scanning include assessing burn depth, postoperative monitori ng of periorbital tissue transfer, distinguishing benign and malignant adnexal skin lesions, and establishing the pathologic margins of lid tumors.