Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany | Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany | Department of Medical Biometry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Abstract: We use continuous wavelet analysis (WA) of Laser Doppler Flux (LDF) time series measured in basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and plaque psoriasis (PP) in order to investigate the rhythmical behavior of blood flow in tumor or inflammatory associated neoangiogenesis. A total of 68 patients with primary BCCs and 40 patients with PP were included in the study. LDF time series were separated in four scaling levels corresponding to the influences of sympathetic activity (SL1), myogenic activity in the vessel wall (SL2), respiration (SL3) and heart beat (SL4). In BCC, SL1 decreased compared to healthy skin. In all other scaling levels, we found a statistically significant increase of the SLs compared to healthy skin. These increases were not found in PP. Rhythmical behavior of blood flow in malignant tumors is totally different from that in regions with inflammation. In BCCs, thermoregulatory processes, ascribed to sympathetic activity, decrease statistically significant. In contrast, inflammatory processes in PP do not substantially change sympathetic activity. WA of tumor perfusion could open a new noninvasive monitor system for controlling tumor therapy.
