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Diagnostic Significance (diagnostic + significance)

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Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Diagnostic Significance of a Small Q Wave in Precordial Leads V2 or V3

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Tetsuya Katsuno M.D.
Background: An abnormal Q wave is usually defined as an initial depression of the QRS complex having a duration of ,40 ms and amplitude exceeding 25% of the following R wave in any contiguous leads on the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, much smaller Q waves are sometimes recorded on the ECG. This study investigated the diagnostic value of the small Q wave recorded in precordial leads V2 or V3 on the ECG. Methods: We investigated 807 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography. A small Q wave was defined as any negative deflection preceding the R wave in V2 or V3 with <40-ms duration and <0.5-mV amplitude, with or without a small (<0.1-mV) slurred, spiky fragmented initial QRS deflection before the Q wave (early fragmentation). ECG and coronary angiographic findings were analyzed. Results: The small Q wave was present in 87 patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that presence of a small Q wave was a strong independent predictor of any coronary artery stenosis or left anterior descending artery (LAD) stenosis (odds ratio = 2.706, 2.902; P < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: A small Q wave (<40-ms duration and <0.5-mV amplitude) in V2 or V3 with or without early fragmentation significantly predicted the presence of CAD and, especially, significant stenosis in the LAD. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):116,123 [source]

Clinical and diagnostic significance of blood in cervical smears

DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
Mathilde E. Boon M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract A heavy admixture of blood in cervical smears can be problematic for the screener, as the presence of blood can influence the staining quality of the cancer cell nuclei. However, it might also be a blessing in disguise. A retrospective study of 40 clinically important smears, 34 originally signed out as negative for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and 6 smears as unsatisfactory, was carried out in comparison with 100 smears from healthy women. Sample parameters were analyzed by macroscopy and neural network scanning. Differences between the two study groups were measured by Pearson's ,2 test. Of the 40 study cases, one case featured insufficient material, while 16 cases (40%) could confidently be classified as malignant or negative for malignancy. The most important macroscopic parameter of the smears was an admixture of blood. This background feature was also highlighted by the NNS system. Angiogenesis was visualized by the expression of CD34 in many sampled capillary fragments included in the smears. In conclusion, blood in cervical smears may have clinical and diagnostic significance. The rate of "failed smears" in routine cervical screening might thus by CD34 be considerably decreased. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2003;28:181,185. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Diagnosis of nail psoriasis: importance of biopsy and histopathology

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2005
C. Grover
Summary Background, Involvement of the nail is quite common in psoriasis and at times may be the sole diagnostic clue. However, the histopathology of nail psoriasis has not been adequately evaluated. A confirmation of the diagnosis is required in cases suspected to have nail psoriasis in order to plan long-term therapy. Objectives, To assess the diagnostic significance and safety profile of nail biopsy in cases with nail psoriasis. Methods, Clinical and mycological features were studied in 42 patients with nail psoriasis. Of these, 22 patients gave consent for nail biopsies to be taken and the histopathological changes were assessed. Results, Males were affected more commonly (57%) with a peak incidence in the age group of 10,20 years (29%). Distal onycholysis, discoloration of nail plate, subungual hyperkeratosis and fine nail pitting were the predominant clinical features. In the 22 biopsies done, hyperkeratosis with parakeratosis (91%) was found to be the most common and hypergranulosis was the least common histological finding (36%). Clinicohistological correlation was possible only in 55% cases. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was done for all biopsies. Conclusions, Histopathological examination of nails is a valuable diagnostic aid, especially in the absence of skin lesions. Examination of the PAS-stained sections is necessary before making a histological diagnosis of nail psoriasis because onychomycosis and psoriasis may show similar histology. [source]

Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and CD10 expression in cutaneous B-cell lymphoma: further support for a follicle centre cell origin and differential diagnostic significance

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
J.J. Hoefnagel
Summary Background Primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas (PCFCCLs) are the most common type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. There is ongoing discussion on the origin of the neoplastic B cells in these PCFCCLs, and consequently on their relation to the groups of primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (PCMZLs) and nodal follicular lymphomas. Objectives To define better the neoplastic B cells in PCFCCLs, and to find out if differences in the expression of the antiapoptopic protein Bcl-2, and Bcl-6 and CD10, molecules which are normally expressed by the neoplastic B cells in nodal follicular lymphomas, might have diagnostic or prognostic significance in cutaneous B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Methods Pretreatment biopsies of well-defined groups of PCFCCL (n = 24), PCMZL (n = 14), primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma of the leg (PCLBCL-leg; n = 19), secondary cutaneous follicular lymphoma (n = 3) and cutaneous pseudo-B-cell lymphoma (n = 6) were investigated by immunohistochemistry for expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and CD10. Results The PCFCCLs consistently expressed Bcl-6, whereas CD10 and Bcl-2 were expressed in only one and two of 24 cases, respectively. In contrast, PCMZLs were always negative for Bcl-6 and CD10, but were Bcl-2 positive, whereas skin and lymph node localizations of secondary cutaneous follicular lymphomas consistently expressed all of Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and CD10. Reactive follicle centre cells in pseudo-B-cell lymphomas expressed Bcl-6 (six of six cases) and CD10 (five of six cases), but not Bcl-2. PCLBCL-leg was Bcl-6 positive and CD10 negative in all cases, irrespective of clinical outcome, and strongly expressed Bcl-2 protein in all but two cases. Conclusions The results of the present study provide further support for the follicle centre cell origin of both PCFCCL and PCLBCL-leg, and indicate that staining for Bcl-2, Bcl-6 and CD10 can serve as an important adjunct in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. [source]

Skin manifestations in acute arsenic poisoning from the Wakayama curry-poisoning incident

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
K. Uede
Summary Background Four people died and 63 others became ill after eating arsenic-laced curry served at a community festival in Wakayama, Japan, on 25 July 1998. Although dermatological manifestations after the acute ingestion of arsenic have seldom been documented, they were observed in 56% of the victims in the Wakayama curry-poisoning incident. Objectives To characterize the skin manifestations due to acute arsenic poisoning. Methods Four of the 67 patients with arsenic poisoning died, and the remaining 63 patients served as subjects for this study. The dermatological findings were extracted from the medical charts at the institutions which admitted the victims, and from the results of a medical inquiry and examinations during a health screening 3 months after the incident. Results Dermatological findings were observed in 56% of the victims during the acute stage of poisoning. Facial oedema was observed in 13 patients, transient flushing erythema in five, conjunctival haemorrhage in 15, maculopapular eruptions in the intertriginous areas in eight, acral desquamation in 11, and herpesvirus infection in three. The histopathological findings of the maculopapular eruptions showed moderate to marked perivascular infiltration with endothelial swelling. Examination of 21 patients at 3 months after their exposure to arsenic revealed ungual changes including Mee's or Beau's lines in 17 cases, periungual pigmentation in nine, and acral desquamation in four cases. Conclusions Our observations indicate that skin lesions are common in patients with acute arsenic poisoning; these findings may provide information of diagnostic significance. [source]