Skin scrape cytology in the diagnosis of nodular basal cell carcinoma for treatment by photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a new mode of cancer treatment with promising resul ts for basal cell carcinoma, The current study aims to investigate the accu racy of skin scrape cytology in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma as an integrated part of the treatment procedure. A total of 107 nodular basal c ell carcinomas of the skin from 90 patients mere examined and cytological a nd histological diagnoses were compared. Compared with histopathology, cyto pathology gave 3 false benign results (2.8%) and no false malignant diagnos es. Three lesions were benign by both methods. We conclude that basal cell carcinoma is reliably diagnosed with both techniques, However, cytology is simpler and faster, allowing treatment to be instituted shortly after the f irst consultation.