A rare case of multiple clear cell acanthoma with a relatively rapid development of the lower legs.

Clear cell acanthoma, firstly described by Degos as "an epidermal tumor with a particular aspect", although quite a rare lesion, raised an important interest because it may be easily confused with other dermatologic lesions, in the absence of a histopathological examination. Its clinical aspect is of a solitary nodule, with a red-brown varying color, with a size of 3 mm to 2 mm, sometimes covered with a thin scall. We present a case of a multiple rare cell acanthoma (seven nodular formations), having a rapid development (about two months) diagnosed in a 71-year-old patient within the lower 1/3 of the right shin.

[An improved approach in the diagnosis of mediastinal/pulmonary masses through the CT-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration]. / O abordare eficientizata economic a diagnosticului formatiunilor mediastinopulmonare prin punctie transtoracica ghidata CT.

AIM: In our clinic we have gathered more than 750 cases of CT-guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration (FNA). This procedure is very useful for the diagnosis of mediastinal/pulmonary tumor masses. Because of the relatively high cost of this procedure, we tried to find out a less expensive but still reliable way to get the diagnosis for these tumors, and for this reason we figure out an original approach. METHODS: The study population consisted of 160 patients divided in two groups. To first group we applied the classic method using the conventional needles and the Papanicolaou stain. For the second group we used the spinal anesthetic needle and an original stain (blue--polychrome--tanine--Dragan). The chi2 test was used to match the results and complications between the two groups. RESULTS: This study prove that this original method is as reliable as the classic one but with a ten-fold reduction of costs: 1,198 euro versus 128 euro per 100 smears. CONCLUSIONS: Choosing of this original method for the diagnosis of mediastinal/pulmonary tumors through transthoracic FNA is justified by the low cost, simple technique and the same reliability as the classic method.

[Dermabrasion in two cases of tuberous sclerosis]. / Tratamentul prin dermabraziune a doua cazuri de scleroza tuberoasa Bourneville.

The authors made an attempt at treating tuberous sclerosis (Bourneville's disease) by means of dermabrasion. The technique and postoperative course are described. The immediate results were very encouraging, but in time returned to an appearance close to the initial one. In conclusion, dermabrasion is not an appropriate treatment for tuberous sclerosis.