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The use of cytology in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
DERRICK E.K.,
SMITH R.,
MELCHER D.H.,
MORRISON E.A.,
KIRKHAM N.,
DARLEY C.R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1994.tb13099.x
Subject(s) - cytopathology , histopathology , cytology , medicine , biopsy , basal cell carcinoma , histopathological examination , pathology , head and neck , basal cell , carcinoma , surgery
Summary Two hundred and forty patients with basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) on the head or neck were studied. Scrapings of the lesions were taken for cytological examination, and a 3‐mm punch biopsy was performed for histopathological study. The accuracy of diagnosis by each method was compared. Both methods confirmed the clinical diagnosis in 226 cases, and both were negative in 10 cases. Cytopathology gave one false negative result (0·42%), and histopathology gave two false negative results (0·83%). Cytopathology gave one false positive result (0·42%), and histopathology did not produce any false positive results. We conclude that cytological examination of skin scrapings from suspected BCCs is a rapid and reliable method of diagnosis.