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PubMedDate not supplied

Fetal echocardiography in ectopia cordis.

Ectopia cordis is an extremely rare congenital abnormality occurring in 5.5 to 7.9 per 1 million live births with high lethality. Between January 1995 and October 1997 eight cases of ectopia cordis were diagnosed at our institute before birth. On the basis of echocardiography the fetal heart anatomy was categorized as either normal heart anatomy (NHA; n = 3) or congenital heart defect (CHD; n = 5). In the majority of cases (seven of eight) other abnormalities were present. Some reports have described ectopia cordis being diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy. In our study group the average gestational age at diagnosis was 26 weeks. The prenatal diagnosis of isolated ectopia cordis is easy; counseling the patient, the perinatal management including term, place, and method of delivery, and optimal care of the newborn are more difficult. Ectopia cordis is a malformation that pediatricians rarely encounter, even at pediatric cardiology centers. Much more frequently it is a problem for sonographers and obstetricians; however, pediatric cardiologists should be aware of diagnostic algorithm for such cases, especially when additional abnormalities are present.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1999

Economic evaluation studies in nuclear medicine: the need for standardization.

The guidelines for publishing economic evaluations require a statement of the economic importance of the analysis and the viewpoint from which it has been carried out, as well as specification of at least two alternative programmes or interventions, the form of economic evaluation, the outcome measure, the method of costing, the time horizon and adjustment for timing of costs and benefits (e.g. by a discount factor), and the allowance for uncertainties (e.g. by implementation of a sensitivity analysis). The decision analysis can be based on clinical trial data, on retrospective or administrative databases, or on modelling. The choice of outcome measures is the key issue in an economic evaluation. In cost-effectiveness analysis, benefits are usually measured in natural units. This is the form of economic evaluation most frequently used in nuclear medicine. Endpoints of effectiveness applied in studies in this field have been procedures avoided, procedures initiated, cardiac events, survival probability, morbidity, quality of life and protracted or failed surgical procedures. In other instances, surrogate endpoints have been used such as metastases detected, staging, viability or tumour response. This, however, limits comparability of cost-effectiveness considerably, as proof of a change in the health outcome cannot be obtained. Measures of utility such as QALYs (quality-adjusted life years) have so far only been applied for decision tree analysis. Useful examples of economic evaluation studies in nuclear medicine are presented here for fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the preoperative staging of non-small cell lung cancer, for FDG-PET in differentiating indeterminate solitary pulmonary nodules, for somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in detecting metastases of carcinoid tumours, for routine preoperative scintigraphy with sestamibi in patients with parathyroid adenoma, for periodic measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone in detecting mild thyroid failure, for diagnostic algorithms including a lung scan in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism, for myocardial perfusion imaging as an incremental prognostic factor in patients with coronary artery disease, and for the use of radioiodine as first-line therapy of Graves' hyperthyroidism and of toxic nodular goitres. Further evaluations of effectiveness or utility should be carried out within a multidisciplinary framework to ensure that nuclear medical procedures are included in the general management guidelines.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Four-year study of abdominal ultrasound in 900 Central African adults with AIDS referred for diagnostic imaging.

BACKGROUND: In the majority of sub-Saharan African countries, the absence of computed tomography facilities makes abdominal ultrasound (US) an alternative diagnostic tool in the clinical investigation of infectious and noninfectious complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. We studied the abdominal US findings in Central African adult AIDS patients to determine whether the findings were consistent between different population groups and neighboring countries. We performed a longitudinal study of AIDS patients and age- and sex-matched HIV-negative adults referred for abdominal US at two tertiary referral city hospitals: the Gecamines Sendwe Hospital (GSH), Lubumbashi, Congo, and the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1996, abdominal US findings in 900 adults (300 Congolese adults from GSH and 600 Zambian adults from UTH; age range = 15-55 years) with a diagnosis of AIDS referred for diagnostic imaging from the inpatient medical wards were recorded; 900 abdominal ultrasound findings from age and sex-matched HIV-negative adults were studied for comparative purposes. RESULTS: Abdominal US for diagnostic purposes in AIDS patients is requested by clinicians for a range of primary clinical indications: abdominal pain, fever of unknown origin, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and abnormal liver function tests. Compared with the HIV-individuals, the AIDS group of patients had a significantly higher proportion of splenomegaly (35% vs. 24%; p < or = 0.001), hepatomegaly (35% vs. 22%; p = 0.001), lymphadenopathy (31% vs. 11%; p < or = 0.001), biliary tract abnormalities (25% vs. 12%; p < or = 0.001), gut wall thickening (15% vs. 5%; p < or = 0.001), and ascites (22% vs. 9%; p < or = 0.001). There were no differences in renal tract and pancreatic abnormalities between the AIDS and HIV-groups. There were significantly fewer gallstones in the AIDS group (23% vs. 75%; p < or = 0.001). These patterns of abdominal US abnormalities were consistent across both hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic imaging by abdominal US is commonly used in the management of a variety of clinical indications in Central Africa. The changes seen on abdominal US in AIDS patients appear uniform across the two countries in Central Africa. These findings may have implications for the radiologist, especially in developing countries, where accurate microbiological or pathologic diagnosis of infectious and noninfectious diseases afflicting the HIV-infected patient is often not possible and US is sometimes relied upon as a "diagnostic" investigation by many physicians. Further studies are required to define patterns of clinical findings, plain films, and pathologic and laboratory correlates with US to develop and refine diagnostic algorithms for clinical use in resource-poor countries.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2003

[Adrenocortical tumours].

Adrenocortical tumours have to be differentiated from cortical hyperplasias, medullary tumours and extra-adrenal tumours or metastases. These diagnoses are mostly possible using routine paraffin sections. In some cases, immunostaining for differing cortical and medullary tumours and metastases are necessary. Adrenal hyperplasias can be congenital or acquired. They are diffuse, micronodular or macronodular and may be inactive or induce a cortical hyperfunction. Very rarely, macronodular hyperplasias may transform into autonomous adenomas. Primary, pigmented adrenocortical disease is a rare, special type of primary adrenal Cushing's syndrome, showing many small tumours with pleomorphic cells and an atrophic surrounding cortical tissue. Adrenal adenomas are mostly unilateral and solitary tumours weighing less than 50 g. Adrenal cortical carcinomas are mostly larger. Like the adenomas, they may be inactive and may induce a hypercortisolism, a hyperandrogenism or (very rarely in carcinomas) a hyperaldosteronism. Differentiating cortical adenomas and carcinomas is difficult in some cases but is possible using a diagnostic algorithm. Myelolipomas are benign, inactive tumours composed of mature fat cells and bone marrow cells. They have to be differentiated from adenomas with myelolipomatous metaplasia. Further, rare primary cortical tumours are mentioned.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

[Chronic cholangitis].

The term chronic cholangitis comprises a heterogeneous group of intra- and/or extrahepatic diseases that may either be bacterially caused or immunologically mediated. In this review, we will focus on the latter and present the clinicopathological and pathogenetic aspects of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The histopathological criteria are defined and differential diagnosis is discussed. Particular emphasis is given to overlap syndromes of PBC and PSC with autoimmune hepatitis. Finally, a diagnostic algorithm is presented.

Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic↗
PubMed2002

Non-traumatic thoracic emergencies: CT venography in an integrated diagnostic strategy of acute pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis.

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are the two aspects of venous thrombo-embolism. Investigation of lower limb veins has been part of various diagnostic algorithms in the past 15 years. Recently, the combination of CT venography (CTV) of lower limbs and abdominal veins together with CT angiography of the pulmonary arteries has allowed a complete examination of venous thrombo-embolism in one session. The technical aspects, imaging findings, venous anatomy on CT, interpretative pitfalls, results and advantages of CT venography are reviewed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Accuracy of high-resolution CT in distinguishing between Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and non- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS patients.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of high-resolution CT in distinguishing between Pneumocystis carinii and non- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients HIV-positive and high risk to have PCP. We performed a prospective study in 30 patients with <200 CD4 lymphocytes, clinical symptoms of pulmonary disease and chest X-ray non-conclusive for pulmonary infection. Evaluated CT findings included ground-glass opacities, reticulation, tree-in-bud appearance, consolidation, cystic lesions, bronchiectasis and lymphadenopathies. The diagnosis of "examination suggestive of PCP" was applied to cases showing a diffuse or predominant ground-glass pattern in the upper fields, associated or not with reticulations and small cystic lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for the diagnosis of PCP was 100, 83.3, 90.5 and 100%, respectively. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was not demonstrated in any of the cases classified as "examination not suggestive of PCP". Significant small airway disease was not observed in any of the PCP cases. We conclude that HRCT is a reliable method for differentiating PCP from other infectious processes in HIV-positive patients and a good method to rule our PCP. Its inclusion in the diagnostic algorithm of lung infections is justified in these patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2001

Low-dose CT: new tool for screening lung cancer?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from malignant tumours as it is very common and has a poor prognosis at advanced tumour stages. Prognosis could be improved by treatment at early stages. As these stages are usually asymptomatic, a diagnostic test that would allow detection of early tumour stages in a population at risk could potentially reduce mortality from lung cancer. Previous approaches using chest radiography and sputum cytology in smokers have been disappointing. Fluorescent bronchoscopy and molecular markers are not yet applicable in clinical routine. Because of its high sensitivity for small pulmonary nodules, which are the most common manifestation of early lung cancer, CT appears suitable as a screening test. Low-dose examination parameters can and should be used for this purpose. From clinical practice it is well known that chest CT often demonstrates small pulmonary nodules, which do not represent lung cancer. Therefore, non-invasive diagnostic algorithms are required to avoid unnecessary biopsies in benign lesions. In preliminary studies of low-dose CT using algorithms based on size and density of detected nodules a large proportion of asymptomatic lung cancers and a large proportion of early, resectable tumour stages were found with a small proportion of invasive procedures for benign nodules. Before this technology can be recommended for broad application, however, further information is required regarding appropriate inclusion criteria (smoking habits, age groups) and screening intervals. Most importantly, further data are required to clarify whether lung cancer screening using low-dose CT can actually reduce mortality from lung cancer.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2004

Preoperative imaging in renal cell cancer.

Renal cell cancer (RCC) represents the fifth most common cancer in men, with a rising incidence. Radical cancer surgery remains the only curative treatment in localized and advanced RCC. Therefore, preoperative imaging is most important for the planning of the surgical approach and strategy. The aim of any preoperative imaging in RCC is to differentiate benign from malignant lesions, to adequately assess tumor size, localization and organ confinement, to identify lymph node and/or visceral metastases, and to reliably predict the presence and extent of any thrombus of the vena cava. It is our aim to review the current status of preoperative imaging modalities in RCC. Computed tomography (CT) remains the most appropriate imaging modality to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Although RCC can appear as iso-, hyper- or hypodense lesions on native CT scans, it usually demonstrates a significant contrast enhancement of about 115 HU and intratumoral areas of necrosis following the intravenous application of contrast medium. Benign masses such as renal oncocytoma are most often homogenous lesions exhibiting hypodensity compared to the normal renal parenchyma following the i.v. application of contrast dye. CT accurately predicts the tumor size with only a 0.5 cm difference as compared to the pathological size of the lesion. The identification of lymph node metastases still remains a problem since the limiting size is 4 mm and CT will result in a false negative rate of about 10%, especially in the presence of micrometastases; the false positive rate of 3-43% is mainly due to reactive hyperplasia. New technologies, such as the multidetector CT with thin collimation and multiplanar reformatting, might result in a diagnostic improvement. The involvement of the adrenal gland can be accurately predicted by CT scans or MRI, allowing an adrenal sparing approach in the case of unsuspicious findings. The detection of visceral metastases appears to be crucial since it has been shown that even patients with metastatic disease might benefit from radical nephrectomy followed by systemic immunotherapy in the case of a good performance status, and the presence of lymph node and pulmonary metastases only. Involvement of the renal vein and the vena cava with tumor thrombus formation will change the surgical strategy. Preoperatively, the presence and the cranial extent of the thrombus need to be known in order to plan the surgical approach. With regard to the extent of renal vein thrombi, a three phase helical CT scan is most appropriate; for vena caval thrombi only a MRI examination is able to accurately identify any infra- or suprahepatic as well as intracardial extension of the thrombus. The identification of multifocal lesions remains another unsolved problem in preoperative imaging techniques for RCC. Compared to the pathohistological analysis of nephrectomy specimens, neither ultrasonography, color duplex sonography nor regular CT scans are able to identify multifocal lesions with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. The evaluation of unenhanced CT scans together with the enhanced corticomedullary and the nephrogenic phase result in a 100% sensitivity and might represent a valuable option. Angiography has basically been abandoned from the armory of routine imaging techniques. It has, however, a current role in terms of the embolization of large tumors to reduce intraoperative blood loss, and in the palliative management of pain and bleeding due to RCC not amenable to surgery. Finally, we present a diagnostic algorithm for the most informative imaging techniques in the evaluation of RCC.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

The role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of intestinal vascular anomalies affecting two small infants.

Two infants affected by intestinal vascular anomalies causing lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage are reported. Upper and lower gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and radionuclide scan were negative. The authors found laparoscopic exploration very useful in detecting the cause and the site of bleeding. Because the usual investigations for gastrointestinal bleeding have been proven to be time-consuming and often unreliable in small infants, the authors suggest considering laparoscopic exploration as a first-line diagnostic tool in this subset of patients. A new diagnostic algorithm for gastrointestinal bleeding in infants is proposed.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2007

Ultrasonographic patterns in patients with obstructed defaecation.

BACKGROUND: Anal ultrasound is helpful in assessing organic anorectal lesions, but its role in functional disease is still questionable. The purpose of the present study is to assess anal-vaginal-dynamic perineal ultrasonographic findings in patients with obstructed defecation (OD) and healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-two consecutive patients (77 women; mean age 51 years; range 21-71) with symptoms of OD were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent digital exploration, endoanal and endovaginal ultrasound (US) with rotating probe. Forty-one patients underwent dynamic perineal US with linear probe. Anal manometry and defaecography were performed in 73 and 43 patients, respectively. Ultrasonographic findings of 92 patients with symptoms of OD were compared to 22 healthy controls. Anismus was defined on US when the difference in millimetres between the distance of the inner edge of the puborectalis muscle posteriorly and the probe at rest and on straining was less then 5 mm. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated by assuming defaecography as the gold standard for intussusception and rectocele and proctoscopy for rectal internal mucosal prolapse. Since no gold standard for the diagnosis of anismus was available in the literature, the agreement between anal US and all other diagnostic procedures was evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of anismus resulted significantly higher (P < 0.05) in OD patients than healthy controls on anal (48 vs 22%), vaginal (44 vs 21%), and dynamic perineal US (53 vs 22%). A significantly higher incidence of rectal internal mucosal prolapse was observed in OD patients when compared to healthy controls on both anal (61.9 vs 13.6%, P < 0.0001) and dynamic perineal US (51.2 vs.9% P = 0.001). For the diagnosis of rectal internal mucosal prolapse, anal US had a 100% sensitivity and specificity. For diagnosis of rectal intussusception, anal US had an 83.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity and perineal US had a 66.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In the diagnosis of anismus, anal ultrasonography resulted in agreement with perineal and vaginal US, manometry, defaecography, and digital exam (P < 0.05). Other lesions detected by US in patients with OD include solitary rectal ulcer, rectocele and enterocele. Damage of internal and/or external sphincter was diagnosed at anal US in 19/92 (20%) patients, all continent and with normal manometric values. CONCLUSION: Anal, vaginal and dynamic perineal ultrasonography can diagnose or confirm many of the abnormalities seen in patients with OD. The value of the information obtained by this non-invasive test and its role in the diagnostic algorithm of OD is yet to be defined.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[New aspects of bacteriological pathogen diagnosis in rheumatic diseases].

Microbiological diagnosis for rheumatic diseases is increasingly used as part of the diagnostic work-up in rheumatological practice due to growing knowledge about bacteria-induced rheumatic diseases. This review's focus lies on rheumatic diseases, which in contrast to septic-infectious arthritis, are characterized by the inability to culture bacteria from the inflammed joint. These reactive arthritides occur after primary extraarticular bacterial infection. The etiological diagnosis of reactive arthritis is based on the detection of a previous or ongoing bacterial infection. Diagnosis is performed by serology or direct detection of the bacterial organism or parts thereof at the site of entry and recently by molecularbiology-based detection of the bacteria in the inflamed joint. This review reflects the current diagnostic approaches and formulates diagnostic algorithms for specific and well-directed microbiological diagnosis.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Required techniques and useful molecular markers in the neuropathologic diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Modern neuropathologic methods and molecular biology have lead to increased understanding of neurodegenerative disorders and biologically based classifications of these disorders. The purpose of this review is to discuss neuropathologic methods that are useful in the characterization of neurodegenerative disorders, with emphasis on disorders of late life that present with dementia or movement disorders. A diagnostic algorithm is suggested for neuropathologic evaluation of neurodegenerative disorders. The importance of clinical information is emphasized in arriving at the most precise and meaningful neuropathologic diagnosis.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2006

Psychopathological rating scales for diagnostic use in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is a complex procedure which should include retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms either by patient recall or third party information, diagnostic criteria according to DSM-IV, current adult ADHD psychopathology including symptom severity and pervasiveness, functional impairment, quality of life and comorbidity. In order to obtain a systematic database for the diagnosis and evaluation of the course ADHD rating scales can be very useful. This article reviews rating instruments that have found general acceptance. The Wender-Utah Rating Scale (WURS) and the Childhood Symptoms Scale by Barkley and Murphy try to make a retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms. The Connors Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS), the Current Symptoms Scales by Barkley and Murphy (CSS), the Adult Self Report Scale (ASRS) by Adler et al. and Kessler et al. or the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder--Self Report Scale (ADHD-SR by Rösler et al.) are self report rating scales focusing mainly on the DSM-IV criteria. The CAARS and the CSS have other report forms too. The Brown ADD Rating Scale (Brown ADD-RS) and the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder--Other Report Scale (ADHD-OR by Rösler et al.) are instruments for use by clinicians or significant others. Both self rating scales and observer report scales quantify the ADHD symptoms by use of a Likert scale mostly ranging from 0 to 3. This makes the instruments useful to follow the course of the disease quantitatively. Comprehensive diagnostic interviews not only evaluate diagnostic criteria, but also assess different psychopathological syndrome scores, functional disability measures, indices of pervasiveness and information about comorbid disorders. The most comprehensive procedures are the Brown ADD Diagnostic Form and the Adult Interview (AI) by Barkley and Murphy. An instrument of particular interest is the Wender Reimherr Interview (WRI) which follows a diagnostic algorithm different from DSM-IV. The interview contains only items delineated from adult psychopathology and not derived from symptoms originally designed for use in children. Other instruments focus on functional impairment, quality of life, comorbid disorders, gender effects and specific psychopathological models.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Immunohistochemistry in bone marrow pathology: a useful adjunct for morphologic diagnosis.

Pathomorphological examination of trephine biopsies of the bone marrow (BM) represents a standard method for the diagnosis and staging of hematologic neoplasms and other disorders involving the BM. The increasing knowledge about the genetic basis and biology of hematologic neoplasms, as well as the recently proposed WHO classification system, provide the framework for an accurate diagnosis. Although conventional morphology remains the gold standard for paraffin-embedded BM trephines, immunohistochemical stainings have become an integral part of the diagnostic workup. Antibodies suitable for paraffin sections are generally applicable to BM trephines, but modifications of staining protocols may be necessary due to the alternative fixatives and decalcification procedures used for BM biopsies. The indications for immunostainings range from confirmation and classification of lymphoma involvement, subclassification of acute leukemias, and estimating blast counts in myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes to characterization of BM involvement in nonhematologic neoplasms. Although subtyping of NHL in the BM is more difficult from the point of morphology, classification of the entities that frequently involve the BM, especially the small B-cell lymphomas, can easily be achieved with the help of immunohistochemistry. In this review, we try to summarize the current state of the art in BM immunohistochemistry for the diagnosis of hematologic disorders. Moreover, diagnostic algorithms and useful antibody panels are proposed for a rational and cost-effective approach.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

[Diagnostic and treatment measures in patients with sympathetically maintained pain].

The term "sympathetically maintained pain" (SMP) describes a symptom that might accompany a variety of diseases (CRPS, (post-) herpetic and post-injury neuralgia), which might transform into sympathetically independent pain (SIP) after some time. Patients with SMP present a bunch of disorders of the autonomic and sensory system, but the only reliable way to diagnose a pain as SMP is a positive response to an intervention at the sympathetic nervous system. Three ways of influencing the sympathetic system are commonly used: (a) local anesthetic sympathetic blockade (SB), (b) intravenous regional sympathectomy (IVRS) and (c) ganglionic local opioid application (GLOA). A review of current literature shows that SB has certain advantages in diagnostic sensitivity, whereas GLOA might be slightly superior in therapy of some diseases with longstanding pain history. Obviously, the therapeutic benefit of all interventions is complete independent of the accompanying autonomic disorder and of a blockade of efferent fibers. A new heuristic model of the SMP mechanism is presented, including both experimental and clinical data. For reducing the risks of false positive or negative diagnosis of SMP and SIP, a diagnostic algorithm is proposed. This includes optimizing the technique, changes of interventional measures, and adequate monitoring both of analgesia and as well of the extend of efferent sympathetic blockade (e.g. measurement of sympathetic reflexes). The treatment recommendations in patients with SMP vary in dependence of the kind of disease. In SMP, invasive measures play an important, but only limited role within the comprehensive treatment concept. As an example a three-stage, symptom-adapted treatment algorithm is demonstrated for CRPS, including also drug therapy, psychologic and physiotherapeutic approaches.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2006

Etiologic and causative factors in perianal dermatitis: results of a prospective study in 126 patients.

BACKGROUND: Perianal dermatitis is probably the most common cutaneous disorder of the genitoanal area. Studies on the epidemiology of causative factors are rare. METHODS: Over a 4-year period we prospectively studied 126 patients with a presumptive diagnosis of anal eczema. The diagnostic algorithm comprised medical history, inspection, microbiology, laboratory chemistry, patch tests, proctoscopy, and biopsy if appropriate. RESULTS: The age range was 7-82 years and the majority of patients were male (57.1%). Periods of anal symptomatology ranged from 6 days to 120 months and most of the patients (51.6%) had complaints for more than 12 months. The clinical diagnosis in 68 patients (54%) was: intertrigo/candidiasis (42.9%), atopic dermatitis (6.3%), pruritus ani (5.6%), psoriasis (3.2%), skin atrophy from steroid use (2.4%), lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (n = 2), herpes simplex (n = 1), and condylomata acuminata (n = 1). Contact eczema was suspected in 58 patients (46%), but 25 of these (43.1%) showed no contact sensitization. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with symptoms of anal eczema suffer from intertrigo/candidiasis, and relevant, causative contact sensitization may be found in only some of them. Patch-testing is a valuable investigative tool only when the patients' own products are included in the test series. Most patients suffer from their perianal complaints for more than 12 months, therefore diligent evaluation is warranted.

Adolescent↗