Clinical and cyto-histopathological evaluation of skin lesions with special reference to bullous lesions.

Aim: Cytopathology of skin has been documented to be useful in the diagnosis of several skin lesions. This study aims to evaluate cytopathology as a quick non-invasive method for early diagnosis of bullous lesions, neoplastic and preneoplastic skin lesions and to correlate the clinical, cytological and histopathological findings of various skin lesions. Materials and Methods: Eighty five patients of skin lesions were included in the study. Skin scraping, Tzanck smears, slit smears and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) were done to obtain material for cytological examination. Excisional biopsy, incisional biopsy and punch biopsy were done to obtain tissue for histopathological examination. The slides were stained with routine stains and special stains as and when required. Results: Of the 85 patients, 45 were males and 40 females. The most common non-neoplastic lesions observed were vesicobullous lesions which comprised of 41 cases followed by neoplastic lesions which consisted of 24 cases, of which six were benign and 18 malignant. Concordant results between cytology and histopathology was seen in majority (91.7%) of lesions studied. Conclusion: Cytology (scrape/imprint/slit smears and FNAC), performed skillfully and with perfection, leads to an early diagnosis in majority of the lesions, as the observed cytomorphological features of various skin lesions were fairly distinctive making cytology a fairly sensitive 'patient compliant' technique for rapid diagnosis of skin lesions.

Semen analysis profile in male infertility: an experience with 100 cases.

In the assessment of unexplained infertility the evaluation of seminal characteristics is primary and paramount, as far as the male is concerned. We present in this article our experience with semen analyses of 100 infertile males. The collection and examination were according to standardized and well accepted methodology. We found that majority of infertile men were within the age interval of 26-30 years, and had been married for 1-3 years, when they first submitted themselves for fertility assessment. The physical parameters were found to be important, in that they in many patients pointed towards a specific physical cause; depletion in semen volume, altered colour, and pH changes were found especially informative. We also found the microscopic arm of semen analyses very useful in pin-pointing existing deficits in the male. Some significant correlations were also observed between abnormal microscopic parameters and clinical conditions. The results are discussed.