Dermoscopy of scalp tumours: a multi‐centre study conducted by the international dermoscopy society

Background Little is known about the dermoscopic features of scalp tumours. Objective To determine the dermoscopic features of scalp tumours. Methods Retrospective analysis of dermoscopic images of histopathologically diagnosed scalp tumours from International Dermoscopy Society members. Results A total of 323 tumours of the scalp from 315 patients (mean age: 52 years; range 3–88 years) were analysed. Scalp nevi were significantly associated with young age (<30 years) and exhibited a globular or network pattern with central or perifollicular hypopigmentation. Melanoma and non‐melanoma skin cancer were associated with male gender, androgenetic alopecia, age >65 years and sun damage. Atypical network and regression were predictive for thin (≤1 mm) melanomas, whereas advanced melanomas (tumour thickness > 1 mm) revealed blue white veil, unspecific patterns and irregular black blotches or dots. Conclusions The data collected provide a new knowledge regarding the clinical and dermoscopy features of pigmented scalp tumours.     

Non invasive prediction of severe fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four clinical and biochemical parameters including serum fibrosis markers (hyaluronate and transforming growth factor beta1) were analyzed in 146 consecutive heavy drinkers (106 men, 40 women; mean age 49.2 years). Following liver biopsy, fibrosis was evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring system (no fibrosis (0) to severe fibrosis (3 + )). Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the markers that were best correlated with the fibrosis score. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (40.4 %) had severe fibrosis (3 +) while 87 (59.6 %) had no fibrosis or moderate fibrosis (0 to 2 +). In multivariate analysis, serum hyaluronate and the prothrombin index were the best markers for the prediction of severe fibrosis. Hyaluronate and the prothrombin index had a diagnostic accuracy of 91.1 % and 89.7 %, respectively in the whole population. Finally, a significant negative correlation was found between hyaluronate and the prothrombin index (r =- 0.86, P <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Using only hyaluronate and the prothrombin index, 9 out of 10 alcoholic patients can be correctly classified according to the severity of liver fibrosis.     

Incidence of lymphoid markers in acute myeloid leukemia. Alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase versus immunofluorescence

The aim of the present study was to compare the immunofluorescence technique (IF) with the immunoenzymatic (IE) alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase method for the evaluation of the presence of lymphoid antigens (Ag) in 46 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The first technique allows detection of Ag expressed on the cytoplasmic membrane of living cells, whilst the second shows the presence of intracytoplasmic Ag on fixed cells. In general, the percentages of lymphoid Ag expression on AML cells are relatively low with both IE (15.2%) and IF (17.4%). We found a good correlation between the two methods for CD2 (4/4), CD7 (4/5), CD20 (1/1) and CD4 (2/2). The Ag CD19, CD21 and CD8 were negative in all cases, both with IE and with IF. CD3 (2 cases) and CD22 (1 case) were only evident with IE. CD10 was seen in 1 case with IF, whilst it was found more frequently with IE. For this reason, demonstration of CD10 with IF is more specific for the classification of acute leukemia.