Community fundraising – a hand held confocal microscope

We are so grateful to have this amazing piece of equipment. For patients this means we are now able to take images and assess hard-to-reach areas such as on the ears and around the eyes.

The ability to scan much larger areas with this device enables the use of confocal microscopy to assess the margins of large lesions and by getting accurate assessments of margins may prevent second and third surgeries for incompletely removed melanomas. All this means improved comfort and care for patients who are going through a very difficult journey.

Confocal microscope technology has been used by the Victoria Melanoma Service (VMS) at The Alfred for several years. It uses laser light to generate images of the cells on the surface of the skin in a level of detail that has previously only been possible through surgically removing tissue and assessing it under a microscope. Confocal microscopy assists the diagnosis of melanoma prior to a biopsy.