Anal intraepithelial neoplasia in a sexually transmitted diseases outpatient clinic: correlation with cytological screening.

BACKGROUND: High-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) is currently considered a precursor of anal cancer. The population most susceptible to AIN is men who have sex with men (MSM), especially if they are infected by HIV. OBJECTIVES: We analysed the population diagnosed with AIN and evaluated anal cytology as a method of screening the at-risk population. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with AIN by means of a surgical biopsy between 2008 and 2010. We analysed the risk factors of the population affected and the degree of agreement with the cytology performed previously. RESULTS: During the study period 41 patients were diagnosed with AIN and seven with anal canal carcinoma in situ; 77% were men, most MSM. A history of receptive anal intercourse was found in 81% of the patients and in 71% there was an association with anogenital warts; 32 patients were HIV-positive, most of them men. Of the patients with anal dysplasia of any type in the cytology, 90% had some grade of AIN or carcinoma in situ in the later biopsy. The degree of agreement between the cytology and the biopsy was 94% in the high-grade dysplasias and 50% in the low-grade dysplasias. CONCLUSIONS: Anal cytology in at-risk populations has a high degree of agreement with the biopsy when performed surgically, though less in low-grade dysplasias, which must always be studied. More studies evaluating the degree of progression of AIN to anal cancer are necessary.

[Cost analysis of Mohs micrographic surgery in high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma]. / Análisis de costes de la cirugía micrográfica de Mohs en el carcinoma basocelular facial de alto riesgo.

INTRODUCTION: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the treatment of choice for high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) as it offers the greatest chance of cure with maximum preservation of healthy tissue. Its use in Spanish public health care hospitals is still limited, however, due to the controversy surrounding its cost. OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost of MMS with fresh tissue to treat high-risk facial BCC and compare this to the estimated cost of conventional surgery in a Spanish public hospital. A secondary objective was to identify cost-optimization strategies for MMS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a consecutive series of patients with high-risk facial BCC who underwent MMS at the Department of Dermatology at Hospital Costa del Sol in Malaga, Spain between July 2006 and December 2007. We performed a descriptive analysis of the clinical characteristics of the patients and surgical factors. We calculated the total and mean cost of MMS and compared the results to the estimated costs of conventional surgery using patients as their own controls. Differences were analyzed according to tumor site and size, histologic subtype, and recurrence. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients (mean age, 62 years) with 81 high-risk facial BCCs, 97.5% of which were primary tumors, underwent MMS. The most common tumor site was the nose (57%) followed by the orbital region (25%). Histology showed that 64% of the tumors were infiltrative or micronodular carcinomas. Tumor-free margins were achieved in all patients, with no more than 2 stages required in 88% of the cases. The most common surgical reconstruction techniques were direct closure (21%) and closure with a local skin flap or graft (71%); the corresponding estimates for conventional surgery were 2% and 89%, respectively. The total and mean cost of MMS was e106,129.07 and e1325.80, respectively (compared to e97 700 and e1208.70 for conventional surgery). The difference in mean costs between MMS and conventional surgery was not significant (P=0.534). CONCLUSIONS: MMS is a viable, effective technique that does not generate significantly higher costs than conventional surgery in selected patients with high-risk facial BCC. Certain technical and organizational strategies could contribute to optimizing the cost of MMS.

Cost Analysis of Mohs Micrographic Surgery in High-Risk Facial Basal Cell Carcinoma. / Análisis de costes de la cirugía micrográfica de Mohs en el carcinoma basocelular facial de alto riesgo.

INTRODUCTION: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the treatment of choice for high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) as it offers the greatest chance of cure with maximum preservation of healthy tissue. Its use in Spanish public health care hospitals is still limited, however, due to the controversy surrounding its cost. OBJECTIVES: To determine the cost of MMS with fresh tissue to treat high-risk facial BCC and compare this to the estimated cost of conventional surgery in a Spanish public hospital. A secondary objective was to identify cost-optimization strategies for MMS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a consecutive series of patients with high-risk facial BCC who underwent MMS at the Department of Dermatology at Hospital Costa del Sol in Malaga, Spain between July 2006 and December 2007. We performed a descriptive analysis of the clinical characteristics of the patients and surgical factors. We calculated the total and mean cost of MMS and compared the results to the estimated costs of conventional surgery using patients as their own controls. Differences were analyzed according to tumor site and size, histologic subtype, and recurrence. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients (mean age, 62 years) with 81 high-risk facial BCCs, 97.5% of which were primary tumors, underwent MMS. The most common tumor site was the nose (57%) followed by the orbital region (25%). Histology showed that 64% of the tumors were infiltrative or micronodular carcinomas. Tumor-free margins were achieved in all patients, with no more than 2 stages required in 88% of the cases. The most common surgical reconstruction techniques were direct closure (21%) and closure with a local skin flap or graft (71%); the corresponding estimates for conventional surgery were 2% and 89%, respectively. The total and mean cost of MMS was e106,129.07 and e1325.80, respectively (compared to e97 700 and e1208.70 for conventional surgery). The difference in mean costs between MMS and conventional surgery was not significant (P=0.534). CONCLUSIONS: MMS is a viable, effective technique that does not generate significantly higher costs than conventional surgery in selected patients with high-risk facial BCC. Certain technical and organizational strategies could contribute to optimizing the cost of MMS.

[Dermoscopic study of cutaneous malignant melanoma: descriptive analysis of 45 cases]. / Estudio dermoscópico del melanoma maligno cutáneo: análisis descriptivo de 45 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Dermoscopy or epiluminescence microscopy is a novel in vivo technique that can be used for the diagnosis of pigmented cutaneous lesions. The aim of this study was to analyze the dermoscopic patterns observed in a consecutive series of primary cutaneous melanomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in which clinical, histological, and dermoscopic characteristics were analyzed in 45 primary melanomas. RESULTS: Two thirds of the series were thin melanomas and 50 % were in situ melanomas. According to the ABCD rule, there was clinical suspicion of melanoma in 72 % of the lesions. Specific dermoscopic patterns were observed in 93 %. A multicomponent pattern was the most commonly observed (71 %). A nonspecific pattern was observed in 7 % of lesions. The most noteworthy local findings were irregular pigmented patches (80 %), irregular dots and globules (68 % and 62 %), atypical pigmented network (57 %), blue-gray veil (42 %), and radial streaming and pseudopods (20 %). In addition, hypopigmented areas (86 %), regression structures (80 %), and vascular abnormalities (73 %) were also often seen. Acral lesions presented patterns characteristic of these sites. CONCLUSION: Analysis of dermoscopic patterns aids early definitive diagnosis of melanoma and is particularly useful in the case of clinically indolent lesions. Dermoscopic findings provide information complementary to that obtained by conventional histology.

Análisis de costes de la cirugía micrográfica de Mohs en el carcinoma basocelular facial de alto riesgo / Cost Analysis of Mohs Micrographic Surgery in High-Risk Facial Basal Cell Carcinoma

Introducción: La cirugía micrográfica de Mohs constituye el tratamiento de elección del carcinoma basocelular de alto riesgo, pues ofrece la mayor garantía de curación con la máxima preservación de tejido sano. Sin embargo, su implementación en hospitales del ámbito sanitario público españoles es minoritaria hasta la fecha, debido a que el coste económico de esta técnica continúa siendo motivo de controversia. Objetivo: Determinar los costes de la cirugía micrográfica de Mohs en fresco (CMF) en el tratamiento del carcinoma basocelular facial de alto riesgo (CBFR) frente al coste teórico mediante cirugía convencional (CC), en un centro hospitalario del ámbito sanitario público español. Identificar estrategias de optimización de costes en este tipo de cirugía. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal de una serie consecutiva de pacientes con CBFR intervenidos mediante CMF en el Servicio de Dermatología del Hospital Costa del Sol desde julio 2006 a diciembre 2007. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las características clínicas de la serie y aspectos quirúrgicos. Se realizó un estudio de costes (coste total y coste medio) de la CMF y se compararon con los costes teóricos de la CC, utilizando cada paciente como su propio control. Se analizaron las diferencias por localización, tamaño del tumor, histología y recurrencia. Resultados: Se intervinieron con CMF 79 pacientes con 81 CBFR (edad media =62 años). El 97,5% fueron tumores primarios. La localización más frecuente fue la pirámide nasal (57%) seguida de la región orbitaria (25%). El 64% correspondieron a tipos histológicos infiltrativo y micronodular. La exéresis tumoral mediante CMF se concluyó en todos los casos con márgenes libres, requiriéndose en el 88% únicamente uno o dos estadios. Las técnicas de reconstrucción quirúrgica más empleadas fueron el cierre directo y colgajo local (21 y 71% de los casos respectivamente en la CMF, frente al 2 y 89% en la CC). El coste total y coste medio de la CMF fue de 106.129,07 y 1.325,8 euros respectivamente (frente a 97.770 y 1208,7 euros de la CC). La diferencia de costes entre ambos procedimientos no fueron significativas (p=0,534). Conclusiones: LA CMF es una técnica factible, eficaz y que genera costes que no son significativamente superiores a los de la CC en pacientes seleccionados con CBFR. Algunas estrategias técnicas y organizativas pueden contribuir a la optimización de costes de esta cirugía (AU)

Introduction: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the treatment of choice for high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) as it offers the greatest chance of cure with maximum preservation of healthy tissue. Its use in Spanish public health care hospitals is still limited, however, due to the controversy surrounding its cost. Objectives: To determine the cost of MMS with fresh tissue to treat high-risk facial BCC and compare this to the estimated cost of conventional surgery in a Spanish public hospital. A secondary objective was to identify cost-optimization strategies for MMS. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study of a consecutive series of patients with high-risk facial BCC who underwent MMS at the Department of Dermatology at Hospital Costa del Sol in Malaga, Spain between July 2006 and December 2007. We performed a descriptive analysis of the clinical characteristics of the patients and surgical factors. We calculated the total and mean cost of MMS and compared the results to the estimated costs of conventional surgery using patients as their own controls. Differences were analyzed according to tumor site and size, histologic subtype, and recurrence. Results: Seventy-nine patients (mean age, 62 years) with 81 high-risk facial BCCs, 97.5% of which were primary tumors, underwent MMS. The most common tumor site was the nose (57%) followed by the orbital region (25%). Histology showed that 64% of the tumors were infiltrative or micronodular carcinomas. Tumor-free margins were achieved in all patients, with no more than 2 stages required in 88% of the cases. The most common surgical reconstruction techniques were direct closure (21%) and closure with a local skin flap or graft (71%); the corresponding estimates for conventional surgery were 2% and 89%, respectively. The total and mean cost of MMS was e106,129.07 and e1325.80, respectively (compared to e97 700 and e1208.70 for conventional surgery). The difference in mean costs between MMS and conventional surgery was not significant (P=0.534). Conclusions: MMS is a viable, effective technique that does not generate significantly higher costs than conventional surgery in selected patients with high-risk facial BCC. Certain technical and organizational strategies could contribute to optimizing the cost of MMS (AU)

Estudio dermoscópico del melanoma maligno cutáneo: análisis descriptivo de 45 casos / Dermoscopic study of cutaneous malignant melanoma: descriptive analysis of 45 cases

Introducción. La dermatoscopia o microscopía de epiluminiscencia es una novedosa técnica de microscopía in vivo útil para el diagnóstico de las lesiones pigmentadas cutáneas. El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar los patrones dermoscópicos de una serie consecutiva de melanomas cutáneos primarios. Material y métodos. Se trata de un estudio de corte transversal, en el que se analizan las características clínicas, histológicas y dermoscópicas de 45 melanomas primarios. Resultados. Las dos terceras partes de la serie eran melanomas de espesor fino y el 50 % melanomas in situ. Clínicamente, el 72 % de las lesiones eran sospechosas de melanoma (regla ABCD). Dermoscópicamente, el 93 % presentaron patrones dermoscópicos específicos. El patrón global más frecuente fue el multicomponente (71 %). El 7 % de las lesiones mostraron un patrón inespecífico. Los hallazgos locales más destacables fueron las manchas de pigmento irregulares (80 %), el retículo pigmentado atípico (57 %), los puntos y glóbulos irregulares (68 y 62 %), las proyecciones radiales/pseudópodos (20 %) y el velo azul-gris (42 %). Además, destacó la presencia de áreas hipopigmentadas (86 %), estructuras de regresión (80 %) y vascularización atípica (73 %). Las lesiones acras mostraron patrones característicos de estas localizaciones. Conclusión. El análisis de patrones dermoscópicos facilita el diagnóstico de certeza del melanoma en estadios precoces, y es particularmente útil en lesiones poco expresivas clínicamente. La identificación de hallazgos dermoscópicos ofrece información complementaria al estudio histológico convencional

Introduction. Dermoscopy or epiluminescence microscopy is a novel in vivo technique that can be used for the diagnosis of pigmented cutaneous lesions. The aim of this study was to analyze the dermoscopic patterns observed in a consecutive series of primary cutaneous melanomas. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in which clinical, histological, and dermoscopic characteristics were analyzed in 45 primary melanomas. Results. Two thirds of the series were thin melanomas and 50 % were in situ melanomas. According to the ABCD rule, there was clinical suspicion of melanoma in 72 % of the lesions. Specific dermoscopic patterns were observed in 93 %. A multicomponent pattern was the most commonly observed (71 %). A nonspecific pattern was observed in 7 % of lesions. The most noteworthy local findings were irregular pigmented patches (80 %), irregular dots and globules (68 % and 62 %), atypical pigmented network (57 %), blue-gray veil (42 %), and radial streaming and pseudopods (20 %). In addition, hypopigmented areas (86 %), regression structures (80 %), and vascular abnormalities (73 %) were also often seen. Acral lesions presented patterns characteristic of these sites. Conclusion. Analysis of dermoscopic patterns aids early definitive diagnosis of melanoma and is particularly useful in the case of clinically indolent lesions. Dermoscopic findings provide information complementary to that obtained by conventional histology