Cytodiagnosis of cutaneous basal and squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a prospective study to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cytologic examination in basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), in order to assess its clinical value. Study design Samples were taken by the "scraping" technique which involves scraping with a scalpel blade directly over the skin tumor surface, smearing the cells onto several glass slides, and fixing them with "citospray." The specimens were stained with the Papanicolaou stain. Punch biopsies were taken to confirm the clinical and cytologic impression. RESULTS: We collected 45 skin tumors in total, clinically presumed to be either BCC (n = 15) or SCC (n = 30). Imprint cytology demonstrated to be of help in the rapid diagnosis of skin tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Cytologic examination is easy to perform, saves time, provides a rapid diagnosis, and can be considered, under experienced hands, reliable in the confirmation of malignant skin tumors. Cytology does not give much information about tumor patterns or subtypes which can be related to aggressive behavior and can be very important in further therapeutic decisions. Therefore, histopathologic confirmation is mandatory before any therapeutic maneuver.

[A continuous experience of the use of norethindrone-ethinyl estradiol combination in small doses as a contraceptive]. / Experiencia continuada con el empleo de la combinación noretindrona-etinil estradiol a dósis baja como anticonceptivo

PIP: Since recent recommendations advocate that smaller doses of estrogen should be used, a combination of .5 mg of norethindrone and .015 mg ethinyl estradiol was tested on 198 patients for a total of 2546 cycles, the longest usage being over 2 years. The women ranged from 15 to 45 years of age, the average age being 28, and the average number of pregnancies, 5.2. The medication was taken daily for 21 days and then stopped for 7. The group was controlled for secondary effects, bleeding, weight changes, and nucleal or hormonal changes. 14.2% stopped taking it because of secondary problems like spotting, nausea, transhormonal bleeding, and depression. The only pregnancy was due to inadequate attention to the prescription by the patient. Tolerance of the medication was quite good overall and no severe difficulties resulted.^ieng