Journal of

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Background and Aim: Preoperative assessment of skin tumors extensions have a potential role to increase the efficiency of surgery and maximal preservation of function and cosmetics in the treatment of invasive types of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
Methods: A total of 72 patients with BCCs on face were included in the study. Gross maximal width of tumors were documented, and then high frequency ultrasonic (HFUS) maximal width and depth of these lesions were determined. Then conventional surgical excision was done and these margins were determined in pathology lab. The comparison of ultrasonic and pathologic depth, and difference of HFUS and pathologic widths from gross clinical width were done with paired t-test.
Results: The mean depth of BCCs were 3.09 mm (SD= 1.02) in HFUS and 2.86 mm (SD=1.22) in pathology (P=0.1). The mean difference from gross width were 4.05 mm (SD=1.18) in HFUS and 4.26 mm (SD=1.70) in pathology (P=0.09).
Conclusions: High frequency sonography has a good accuracy in detection of width and depth of BCCs of face, especially in tumors smaller than 10 mm, and can help to determine safe margins non-invasively, especially in cosmetic and functional critical areas.

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Background and aim: Macular amyloidosis (MA) is a form of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA), characterized by amyloid deposits in the papillary dermis. This study aimed to compare the biophysical properties of MA lesions with those of adjacent uninvolved skin.
 

Methods: We measured several parameters in active MA lesions of 22 patients, including stratum corneum (SC) hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), surface friction, pH, sebum, melanin, erythema, temperature, elasticity parameters (R0, R2, and R5), as well as epidermal and dermal thickness and echo-density using ultrasonography. Measurements from the lesions were compared with those from healthy skin adjacent to the lesions, serving as controls. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired t-test, with P-values less than 0.05 considered significant.
 

Results: Compared to adjacent normal skin, MA lesions demonstrated significantly lower SC hydration and surface friction, while TEWL, pH, erythema index, melanin content, and epidermal thickness were significantly increased. No significant differences were found in sebum levels, temperature, elasticity parameters, or dermal thickness and echo-density.
 

Conclusion: MA lesions exhibit distinct biophysical and ultrasonographic changes consistent with their histopathological features. These characteristic alterations may serve as useful, non-invasive markers for the early diagnosis of cutaneous macular amyloidosis.