Clinical use of pulsed photothermal radiometry

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Abstract
The application of pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR) diagnostics to characterize port wine stain (PWS) lesions is discussed. A PPTR signal of a PWS in response to pulsed laser exposure is shown to consist of an initial `T-jump' due to epidermal melanin absorption and a `delayed thermal wave' resulting from laser generated heat in subsurface blood vessels diffusing to the skin surface. A prototype PPTR instrument incorporating an infrared fiber is constructed which facilitates convenient skin-site accessibility. Laser heating of the infrared collection optics results in an artifactual signal which overestimates the initial `T-jump.' Magnitude of the error is measured and a method to eliminate it is suggested.

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