Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

基于Clinical Trials数据库的癌性疼痛治疗药物临床试验分析

目的了解近年来癌性疼痛(癌痛)治疗药物临床试验的趋势和特点,为癌痛治疗药物的开发和临床研究提供参考依据。方法从Clinical Trials数据库中检索1987—2022年癌痛治疗药物临床试验的相关信息,从试验类型、备案时间、申报地区、癌痛类型、癌痛治疗药物等角度进行描述性分析。结果筛选出临床试验376项,由研究者发起的试验(IIT)项目数多于注册类试验(IST),其中北美洲的总项目数、IIT和IST项目数最多;试验总项目数和IST项目数先增长后回落,IIT的试验项目数稳步增长。针对慢性癌痛、爆发性癌痛和重度癌痛的研究相对较多。研究对象以阿片类药物尤其是芬太尼的占比最高。结论癌痛治疗药物临床试验对推进癌痛治疗药物治疗发挥了重要作用,未来有待进一步加强IST在新型癌痛治疗药物的研究和开展更多IIT研究,以更好地优化癌痛治疗效果。

Clinical manifestations,diagnosis and long-term prognosis of adult autoimmune enteropathy:Experience from Peking Union Medical College Hospital

BACKGROUND Autoimmune enteropathy(AIE)is a rare disease whose diagnosis and long-term prognosis remain challenging,especially for adult AIE patients.AIM To improve overall understanding of this disease’s diagnosis and prognosis.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical,endoscopic and histopathological characteristics and prognoses of 16 adult AIE patients in our tertiary medical center between 2011 and 2023,whose diagnosis was based on the 2007 diagnostic criteria.RESULTS Diarrhea in AIE patients was characterized by secretory diarrhea.The common endoscopic manifestations were edema,villous blunting and mucosal hyperemia in the duodenum and ileum.Villous blunting(100%),deep crypt lymphocytic infiltration(67%),apoptotic bodies(50%),and mild intraepithelial lymphocytosis(69%)were observed in the duodenal biopsies.Moreover,there were other remarkable abnormalities,including reduced or absent goblet cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 62%),reduced or absent Paneth cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 69%)and neutrophil infiltration(duodenum 100%,ileum 69%).Our patients also fulfilled the 2018 diagnostic criteria but did not match the 2022 diagnostic criteria due to undetectable anti-enterocyte antibodies.All patients received glucocorticoid therapy as the initial medication,of which 14/16 patients achieved a clinical response in 5(IQR:3-20)days.Immunosuppressants were administered to 9 patients with indications of steroid dependence(6/9),steroid refractory status(2/9),or intensified maintenance medication(1/9).During the median of 20.5 months of followup,2 patients died from multiple organ failure,and 1 was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.The cumulative relapse-free survival rates were 62.5%,55.6%and 37.0%at 6 months,12 months and 48 months,respectively.CONCLUSION Certain histopathological findings,including a decrease or disappearance of goblet and Paneth cells in intestinal biopsies,might be potential diagnostic criteria for adult AIE.The long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory despite corticosteroid and immunosuppressant medications,which highlights the need for early diagnosis and novel medications.

Clinical characteristics of acute non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the effect of endoscopic hemostasis

BACKGROUND Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding(ANVUGIB)constitutes a prevalent emergency within Gastroenterology,encompassing 80%-90%of all gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidents.This condition is distinguished by its abrupt onset,swift progression,and notably elevated mortality rate.AIM To gather clinical data from patients with ANVUGIB at our hospital in order to elucidate the clinical characteristics specific to our institution and analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis.METHODS We retrospectively retrieved the records of 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB by endoscopy at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023,utilizing our medical record system.Data pertaining to general patient information,etiological factors,disease outcomes,and other relevant variables were meticulously collected and analyzed.RESULTS Among the 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB,the male-to-female ratio was 2.91:1,with a higher prevalence among males.Notably,43.6%of patients presented with black stool as their primary complaint,while 27.4%had hematemesis as their initial symptom.Upon admission,17%of patients exhibited both hematemesis and black stool,while most ANVUGIB patients primarily complained of overt gastrointestinal bleeding.Urgent routine blood examinations at admission revealed that 75.8%of patients had anemia,with 63.4%experiencing moderate to severe anemia,and 1.5%having extremely severe anemia(hemoglobin<30 g/L).With regard to etiology,53.2%of patients experienced bleeding without a definitive trigger,24.2%had a history of using gastric mucosa-irritating medications,24.2%developed bleeding after alcohol consumption,2.8%attributed it to improper diet,1.7%to emotional excitement,and 2.3%to fatigue preceding the bleeding episode.Drug-induced ANVUGIB was more prevalent in the elderly than middle-aged and young individuals,while bleeding due to alcohol consumption showed the opposite trend.Additionally,diet-related bleeding was more common among the young age group compared to the middle-aged group.Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified peptic ulcers as the most frequent cause of ANVUGIB(73.3%),followed by gastrointestinal malignancies(10.9%),acute gastric mucous lesions(9.8%),and androgenic upper gastrointestinal bleeding(1.5%)among inpatients with ANVUGIB.Of the 532 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding,68 underwent endoscopic hemostasis,resulting in an endoscopic treatment rate of 12.8%,with a high immediate hemostasis success rate of 94.1%.

Molecular insights into clinical trials for immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer:Unravelling challenges and future directions

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes.Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics,challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of advanced stage metastatic CRC(mCRC).In particular,the five-year survival rate is very low since mCRC is currently rarely curable.Over the past decade,cancer treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of cancer immunotherapies,specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors.Therapies aimed at blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1,PD-L1,and CTLA-4 target inhibitory pathways of the immune system,and thereby enhance anti-tumor immunity.These therapies thus have shown promising results in many clinical trials alone or in combination.The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy,either alone or in combination with CRC,have been investigated in several clinical trials.Clinical trials,including KEYNOTE-164 and CheckMate 142,have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of the PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab,respectively,for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair CRC.Unfortunately,these drugs benefit only a small percentage of patients,with the benefits of immunotherapy remaining elusive for the vast majority of CRC patients.To this end,primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant issue,and further research is necessary to optimize the use of immunotherapy in CRC and identify biomarkers to predict the response.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC.The underlying rationale,challenges faced,and potential future steps to improve the prognosis and enhance the likelihood of successful trials in this field are discussed.

Assessment of Appropriateness of Diagnostic Lymph Node Tissue Collection from the Operating Theater and by Interventional Radiologist. A Clinical Audit

Background: Appropriate sample requesting, collecting and timely dispatch to the appropriate laboratory is essential in establishing diagnosis of pathologies with lesions. Much time and effort may be wasted if this is not done according to certain standards. We conducted this study to assess the route of lymph node samples from requests to reaching the laboratories. Methods: We conducted an audit over a period from 4th June until 10th Aug 2023. Data for all the procedures performed over this period on lymph node samples (was entered into and analysed using Excel. Results: A total of eighteen samples for sixteen patients were obtained during this period. Median age of the patients was 34 years (19 - 73) with a M:F ratio of 5:11. Among the IR samples, nine samples were from the neck, three from inguinal area and one from axilla. Seven samples (53.8%) were tru-cut biopsies, six samples (46.15%) were FNA. All samples were sent to the pathology laboratory fixed in formalin. Samples for TB were sent only for five cases (31.25%) and for only two cases (12.5%) were samples sent for bacterial culture. For the OR samples, none were sent for either bacterial culture or TB. Overall, eight patients (50%) were not investigated for any infectious etiologies like brucella, toxoplasmosis, CMV, EBV plus other possible causes. Repeat sampling was required for 25% of patients (within and out of the audit period). Conclusions: to avoid delays in making diagnoses, it is paramount to consider infectious etiologies as possible diagnosis for lymphadenopathy and request appropriate investigations. This requires liaising with infectious diseases/clinical microbiology experts to guide regarding types of samples, types of media and timely dispatch to the correct laboratory.

Comment on:Clinical Characteristics,Diagnosis,and Treatments for COVID-19

The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients have been well summarized by Xie et al.However,we should pay attention to another special manifestation of COVID-19,COVID-19-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome(IRIS).SARS-CoV-2,an infectious agent,can alscoause IRIS,similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic,increasing cases of COVID-19-related IRIS have been reported.However,the definition and detailed criteria of COVID-19-related IRIS have not been thoroughly clarified.Clinicians should pay attention to 3 essential components in a classical model of IRIS,including a primary disease that causes immunosuppression,a trigger that induces immune reconstitution.

Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Migraine in Brazzaville

Introduction: Migraine is the most common primary headache, and can cause significant disability. There are two types, migraine without aura and migraine with aura. The diagnosis of migraine is essentially clinical. Worldwide prevalence was estimated at 11.6% in 2009. In Africa, it is estimated at 10.4%. Objective: To describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects of migraine in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: This was a door-to-door cross-sectional study conducted from 1st May to 1 st July 2018 in the city of Brazzaville. Subjects over 18 with clearly expressed consent were included. The questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, diagnostic criteria for migraine according to the IHS, treatments taken. The degree of disability was determined using the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 for MAC. Results: Of the 1017 subjects interviewed in this study, 115 (39.9%) had migraine, including 73 women (63.47%) and 42 men (36.52%). In the group of migraine sufferers, the number of cases of definite migraine was 61 (53.04%) and that of probable migraine 54 (46.95%). For 81 migraine sufferers (70.43%), stress was the triggering factor. The frequency of attacks was weekly and monthly for 30 (26.1%) and 19 (16.5%) sufferers respectively. The location of the migraine was unilateral in 38% of cases and tilted in 24.3%. The intensity of the attack was described as moderate and severe in 41.7% and 57.4% of subjects respectively. Phonophobia/photophobia accompanied the migraine in 65.2% of cases. One hundred and eight subjects were treated. Of these, 106 (98.1%) were on medication. Eleven (10.37%) had received a medical prescription, and ninety-seven (89.8%) were self-medicating. Five and three subjects were under the care of a general practitioner and a neurologist respectively. Conclusion: Migraine is a frequent pathology in Brazzaville. Its preponderance among young people and women calls for the implementation of effective prevention strategies for these already vulnerable social groups. The form without aura was the most common type. Visual aura was the most common type. Headache-related symptoms were dominated by phonophotophobia, followed by nausea and vomiting. Almost all migraine sufferers were self-medicating, and very few were under the care of a doctor. First-line analgesics and NSAIDs were the mainstay of treatment.

Artificial intelligence analysis of videos to augment clinical assessment:an overview

Observation is a fundamental part of the practice of clinical medicine.Observation of movement is particularly important for the neurologist.Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease,multiple sclerosis,stroke,epilepsy,and many others affect a person’s movement in characteristic ways.In some conditions,changes in the patient’s voice can be included in this-changes in sound caused by changes in the movements of speech.The clinician’s detection of a characteristic abnormality,and their judgment of its severity,plays a central role in both diagnosis and the assessment of prognosis or response to treatment.However,that practice depends upon a limited resource of experienced experts.In addition,these experts are limited by human visual judgment,which cannot reliably or precisely detect and measure small or subtle changes in movement(Williams et al.,2023).

Mission of the National Cancer Center Hospital in Japan to promote clinical trials for precision medicine

Precision medicine is a growing field worldwide.Despite its potential benefit to many patients,several major obstacles must be overcome before precision medicine can be more widely used in clinical practice.The main obstacles are associated with the quality of samples used for genomic analysis。

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in North Sichuan Region, China, 2018-2023: A Descriptive Study

Background: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) remains an important public health problem in China. Many studies on the epidemiological characteristics of HFMD have been reported, but studies in North Sichuan region have been neglected. Methods: HFMD-related enterovirus infected cases were clinically confirmed and underwent real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) from May 2018 to October 2023 in Guangyuan Central Hospital. Results: During 2018-2023, other EV (437 cases, 81.08%) was the most predominant serotype followed by CV-A16 (94 cases, 17.44%), EV-A71 (8 cases, 1.48%) was the least predominant serotype. Peak infections occurred in July and October. There were no significant differences in gender, age and serotypes. HFMD was concentrated in children under 47 months of age, with the highest incidence in children aged 12 - 23 months and the highest proportion of other EV infections in the whole age group. COVID-19 did not cause significant changes in gender, age and serotype. Overall, there was a significant increase in the proportion of children aged 12 - 23 months infected with CV-A16, and an increase in the proportion of children aged over 36 months infected with other EVs. Conclusions: The incidence of HFMD caused by EV-A71 has decreased significantly, and other EVs have become the main pathogens of HFMD in North Sichuan region in recent years. In the prevention and control of CV-A16, more attention should be paid to children aged 12 - 23 months and the dominant serotype should be closely monitored. Our study highlights the importance of developing of new diagnostic reagents and vaccines for the prevention and control of enterovirus infection. This study for the first time provides insights into district interventions to local conditions.

Stress Echocardiography for Chronic Coronary Syndrome:Clinical Practice Guidelines(2023)

In the context of the People's Republic of China,coronary artery disease(CAD)presents a sig-nificant clinical challenge,with over 11.3 mil-lion patients diagnosed.Traditionally,the diagnos-is of CAD has predominantly relied on invasive coronary angiography.[1]However,recent advances in clinical research have revealed a notable trend:a substantial 82% of patients subjected to such invas-ive diagnostics do not necessitate interventional therapy.

Chinese version of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire:psychometric properties and clinical applications

Background The alexithymia trait is of high clinical interest.The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire(PAQ)was recently developed to enable detailed facet-level and valence-specific assessments of alexithymia.Aims In this paper,we introduce the first Chinese version of the PAQ and examine its psychometric properties and clinical applications.Methods In Study 1,the PAQ was administered to 990 Chinese participants.We examined its factor structure,internal consistency,test-retest reliability,as well as convergent,concurrent and discriminant validity.In Study 2,four groups,including a major depressive disorder(MDD)group(n=50),a matched healthy control group for MDD(n=50),a subclinical depression group(n=50)and a matched healthy control group for subclinical depression(n=50),were recruited.Group comparisons were conducted to assess the clinical relevance of the PAQ.Results In Study 1,the intended five-factor structure of the PAQ was found to fit the data well.The PAQ showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability,as well as good convergent,concurrent and discriminant validity.In Study 2,the PAQ was able to successfully distinguish the MDD group and the subclinical depression group from their matched healthy controls.Conclusions The Chinese version of the PAQ is a valid and reliable instrument for comprehensively assessing alexithymia in the general population and adults with clinical/subclinical depression.

Virtual reality:The bridge between medical education and clinical practice

After perusing the paper by Kim et al,I discovered that this is an interesting manuscript and a successful study.Virtual reality(VR)is an emerging and promising technology employed in the domain of medical practice and medical education over the past decade.In the era of big data,VR is constantly progressing in the fields of medical education and clinical diagnosis and treatment.As a novel scientific and technological tool,VR not only overcomes multiple limitations of the traditional medical teaching mode but also reduces the reliance on personnel and equipment.VR can simulate the real clinical situation,stimulate the enthusiasm of young doctors and nurses for clinical study,and simultaneously safeguard and promote medical safety and doctor-patient harmony.Favorable outcomes have been attained in clinical teaching and diagnosis and treatment activities.While enhancing the training conditions of medical cosmetics and elevating the level of clinical practice and teaching,the risks resulting from improper clinical diagnosis and treatment have been circumvented.All of this is evident and comprehensible.

Methodological considerations of priming repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols in clinical populations

INTRODUCTION Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)is a neuroplasticity-enhancing technique that modifies brain responsiveness to various therapeutic modalities in clinical psychiatric and neurological applications. Furthermore,its effect can be attributed to long-term potentiation(LTP)or longterm depression(LTD)-like neuroplasticity.However,responsiveness to rTMS is largely variable in healthy and pathological brains and is mediated by complex biological mechanisms.Metaplasticity refers to a higher-order plasticity mechanism in which the direction and magnitude of synaptic plasticity are modified by prior neuronal activity and is believed to be a significant factor leading to the response variability of rTMs.

Chlorfenapyr poisoning:mechanisms,clinical presentations,and treatment strategies

BACKGROUND:Chlorfenapyr is used to kill insects that are resistant to organophosphorus insecticides.Chlorfenapyr poisoning has a high mortality rate and is difficult to treat.This article aims to review the mechanisms,clinical presentations,and treatment strategies for chlorfenapyr poisoning.DATA RESOURCES:We conducted a review of the literature using PubMed,Web of Science,and SpringerLink from their beginnings to the end of October 2023.The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews,clinical guidelines,retrospective studies,and case reports on chlorfenapyr poisoning that focused on its mechanisms,clinical presentations,and treatment strategies.The references in the included studies were also examined to identify additional sources.RESULTS:We included 57 studies in this review.Chlorfenapyr can be degraded into tralopyril,which is more toxic and reduces energy production by inhibiting the conversion of adenosine diphosphate to adenosine triphosphate.High fever and altered mental status are characteristic clinical presentations of chlorfenapyr poisoning.Once it occurs,respiratory failure occurs immediately,ultimately leading to cardiac arrest and death.Chlorfenapyr poisoning is diflcult to treat,and there is no specific antidote.CONCLUSION:Chlorfenapyr is a new pyrrole pesticide.Although it has been identified as a moderately toxic pesticide by the World Health Organization(WHO),the mortality rate of poisoned patients is extremely high.There is no specific antidote for chlorfenapyr poisoning.Therefore,based on the literature review,future efforts to explore rapid and effective detoxification methods,reconstitute intracellular oxidative phosphorylation couplings,identify early biomarkers of chlorfenapyr poisoning,and block the conversion of chlorfenapyr to tralopyril may be helpful for emergency physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Prevalence and clinical impact of sarcopenia in liver transplant recipients:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing liver transplantation(LT)remains to be determined partly because of different diagnostic criteria.Sarcopenia has recently been recognized as a new prognostic factor for predicting outcomes in LT candidates.AIM To estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and evaluate its clinical effect on LT candidates.METHODS This systematic search was conducted in PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,and Cochrane Library for original English-language articles that investigated the prevalence and influence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing LT from database inception to November 30,2022.Cohort studies of the definition of sarcopenia that estimate sarcopenia prevalence and evaluate its effect on clinical outcomes and the risk of mortality were included.RESULTS Twenty-five studies involving 7760 patients undergoing LT were included.The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing LT was 40.7%[95%confidence intervals(95%CI):32.1-49.6].The 1-,3-,and 5-year cumulative probab-ilities of post-LT survival in patients with preoperative sarcopenia were all lower than those without sarcopenia(P<0.05).Sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk of post-LT mortality in patients undergoing LT(adjusted hazard ratio:1.58;95%CI:1.21-2.07).Patients with preoperative sarcopenia had a longer intensive care unit stay,a high risk ratio of sepsis,and serious post-LT complications than those without sarcopenia.CONCLUSION Sarcopenia is prevalent in a substantial proportion of patients undergoing LT and is strongly and independently associated with higher a risk of mortality risk.

Comparative analysis of breast and lung cancer survival rates and clinical trial enrollments among rural and urban patients in Georgia

Objectives:Rural patients have poor cancer outcomes and clinical trial(CT)enrollment compared to urban patients due to attitudinal,awareness,and healthcare access differential.Knowledge of cancer survival disparities and CT enrollment is important for designing interventions and innovative approaches to address the stated barriers.The study explores the potential disparities in cancer survival rates and clinical trial enrollments in rural and urban breast and lung cancer patients.Our hypotheses are that for both cancer types,urban cancer patients will have longer 5-year survival rates and higher enrollment rates in clinical trials than those in rural counties.Methods:We compared breast and lung cancer patients’survival rates and enrollment ratios in clinical trials between rural(RUCC 4-9)and urban counties in Georgia at a Comprehensive Cancer Center(CCC).To assess these differences,we carried out a series of independent samples t-tests and Chi-Square tests.Results:The outcomes indicate comparable 5-year survival rates across rural and urban counties for breast and lung cancer patients,failing to substantiate our hypothesis.While clinical trial enrollment rates demonstrated a significant difference between breast and lung cancer patients at CCC,no significant variation was observed based on rural or urban classification.Conclusion:These findings underscore the need for further research into the representation of rural patients with diverse cancer types at CCC and other cancer centers.Further,the findings have considerable implications for the initiation of positive social change to improve CT participation and reduce cancer survival disparities.

Ganoderma lucidum:a comprehensive review of phytochemistry,efficacy,safety and clinical study

Ganoderma lucidum,one of the most well-known edible fungi,is believed to be very beneficial for longevity and vitality.A long usage history suggests that G.lucidum has various clinical therapeutic effects.And experimental studies have confirmed that G.lucidum has multiple pharmacological effects,including antitumor,anti-microbial,anti-HIV protease,and antidiabetic activity and so on.With the deepening of research,more than 300 compounds have been isolated from G.lucidum.There is an increasing population of G.lucidum-based products,and its international development is expanding.Currently,G.lucidum has drawn much attention to its chemical composition,therapeutic effect,clinical value,and safety.This paper provides a comprehensive review of these aspects to enhance the global promotion of G.lucidum.

A Clinical and Histopathological Analysis of 147 Cases of Dermatofibroma (Benign Fibrous Histiocytoma)

Background: Dermatofibroma usually occurs on the extremities or trunk as a common and benign skin tumor. The identification of typical dermatofibroma is uncomplicated, although it can be challenge due to its wide range of presentations and histological variations. Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of 147 Cases of Dermatofibroma. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 147 biopsy specimens of 124 patients who were diagnosed with dermatofibroma in the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Pathology at the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2009 and April 2024. All case were retrieved from the saved medical records. Results: Ages of the 124 Dermatofibroma-affected individuals ranged from 11 to 61 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.7. Over 80% of the case occurred between the ages of 20 and 49 years, 61.9% of the lesions were found on the extremities. The duration of the cases varied from 17 days to 30 years and half of lesions (58.2%) persisted for less than two years. Over 60% of the lesions were found on the extremities. The diameter of the tumors ranged between 0.3 cm and 5 cm, with most tumors measuring less than or equal to 2 cm (85.00%). Cutaneous masses or dermatofibroma was the most common clinical diagnosis. Most tumors (79.6%) were asymptomatic. Cutaneous masses or dermatofibroma was the most common clinical diagnosis. Prior to the surgical procedure, 57 cases were suspected to be “DF”, 55 cases were suspected to be “cutaneous masses”. Immunohistochemical staining revealed positive expression of SMA, while the negative rate of CD34 was found to be 66.67%. No diffuse CD34 positivity was observed in all tumors. Conclusion: Variations in clinical features, pathological manifestations, and immunohistochemical results of DF pose challenges for accurate diagnosis. A comprehensive understanding of its clinical and pathological characteristics is crucial for precise identification. Incorporating immunohistochemical analysis can help prevent misdiagnosis.