We report a retrospective study of patch testing in patients with discoid eczema. 48 patients with persistent or severe discoid eczema were patch tested. The mean age of patients was 45 years and the median duration of symptoms was 6 months. 24 patients (50%) had positive patch tests, and 16 of these (33%) were considered to be clinically relevant. The most common allergens implicated were rubber chemicals, formaldehyde, neomycin, chrome, nickel (5, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 reactions, respectively). 13 of 16 patients were followed up by telephone in 1996, and 8/13 (61%) stated they had benefited from patch testing. This study suggests allergic contact dermatitis is relatively common in persistent discoid eczema, and allergen avoidance may be of benefit. We recommend patch testing should be considered for all patients with severe or persistent discoid eczema.

Ingenol mebutate gel is a cost-effective therapy for the first-line treatment of AK from a Scottish NHS perspective.

Basal cell carcinoma accounts for most skin malignancies. Genital basal cell carcinoma, however, is very rare. We report the first case of superficial basal cell carcinoma involving the inner surface of foreskin. Shared expertise within a multidisciplinary clinic was necessary for early diagnosis of the present case.

No abstract

was adapted to the Portuguese setting to evaluate the cost-effectiveness (CEA) of linezolid vs.vancomycin in MRSA cSSTI. Methods: Published Bayesian evidence synthesis results were used to populate efficacy parameters of the model. Resource utilization and MRSA prevalence rates were obtained through an expert panel of Portuguese clinicians and costs from published sources were applied to resource units. Analyses were done from the Portuguese NHS perspective. Both univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of model results. Results: Average cost per patient for linezolid and vancomycin treatments were 15,195€ and 17,345€ respectively. Average effectiveness gained with linezolid treatment was 0.002QALYs. Average saving obtained with linezolid treatment was 2150€ per patient. ConClusions: Linezolid is a dominant strategy compared to vancomycin: less costly and more effective. Compared to vancomycin, linezolid is expected to result in lower total costs that offset its higher acquisition cost in cSSTI in Portugal.