title: On the utility of fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis of primary scalp lesions.
abstract: A study of the clinico-cytologic findings of 62 primary palpable lesions located in the scalp is reported. Trichilemmal cyst (16 cases) followed by lipoma (8 cases) and benign melanocytic proliferation (4 cases) were the most frequent benign conditions (n = 45); basal-cell carcinoma (6 cases) and squamous-cell carcinoma (5 cases) were the most frequently aspirated malignant tumors (n = 17). In the cytologic category of benign lesions (n = 45), cytohistologic correlation was carried out in 19 cases and the cytohistologic agreement was 100%, except for the three actinic keratosis cases that were diagnosed as atypical epidermal lesions. Cytohistologic agreement was 100% in the 16 malignant lesions in which excisional biopsy was performed. Based on the findings reported here, fine-needle aspiration is indicated as the first-choice technique for the clinical evaluation of primary scalp lesions. Experience with cutaneous cytopathology is essential in order to be able to carry out this task.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Rosell Hospital, Cartagena 30202, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García-Rojo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Solano
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Sánchez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montalbán-Romero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martínez-Parra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Guillermo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018294:Neoplasms, Adnexal and Skin Appendage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery