The results of this study are a significant therapeutic advancement. Dupilumab was shown to provide a mean percent change in Eczema Area and Severity Index score of -74% ± 3.6, in addition to, statistically and clinically significant reductions the severity, symptomatology, and morbidity associated with AD. However, the small sample size makes it difficult to assess the magnitude of this effect. As a result, dupilumab will likely be reserved for cases of severe AD unresponsive to traditional modalities.
BACKGROUND
There have been recent claims of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment in dermatology. One potential manifestation of overutilization would be providers who perform numerous biopsies per patient.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the frequency of skin biopsy rate outliers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data on biopsy rates at the individual provider level were obtained from Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use Files. The total number of biopsies for each provider was obtained by summing the number of claimed biopsy services for each unique National Provider Identifier. The visit count for each provider was obtained by summing all evaluation and management services claimed. Provider biopsy rates were calculated by dividing the total number of biopsies associated with each National Provider Identifier by the corresponding visit count.
RESULTS
The mean provider biopsy rate was 0.31 services per visit, or approximately 1 biopsy every 3 visits. Defining outliers as providers who averaged 3 or more biopsies per visit, there were 38 outliers out of 18,260 providers. Physicians had a lower mean biopsy rate than nonphysician clinicians (p = 1.70E–28).
CONCLUSION
Contrary to claims, the authors' results do not indicate widespread overutilization of skin biopsy services.
Introduction Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat several solid organ malignancies. The most common cutaneous toxicities are a mild erythematous rash and pruritus, which are often attributed to infectious etiologies. However, certain clinical characteristics may favor a drug-related reaction. Clinicians should recognize these phenomena to avoid potentially unnecessary antibiotic treatment or withdrawal of chemotherapeutic agents. Objective We aim to report a case of gemcitabine-related acute lipodermatosclerosis-like eruption, add to the evolving classification of this condition, and highlight developing literature on gemcitabine that may explain this toxicity. Case Dermatology was consulted for presumed cellulitis in a 62-year-old female with pancreatic carcinoma. The patient presented to the emergency department five days after her first dose of gemcitabine with erythema in both lower extremities. A diagnosis of gemcitabine-related acute lipodermatosclerosis was made and the patient was started on topical triamcinolone. Conclusion It is important to recognize gemcitabine-related acute lipodermatosclerosis in order to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use and disruptions in chemotherapy.
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) has become a well-known entity occurring mainly in African-American women, but is rarely encountered in other populations. This report describes a set of identical twin Lumbee Indian women, both developing cicatricial alopecia, with one sister diagnosed with CCCA overlap with lichen planopilaris and the other with CCCA. The Lumbee Tribe is a federally recognized group of Native Americans who reside in North Carolina. Lumbee Indians have shown an increased incidence of several metabolic and neurologic diseases but cicatricial alopecia has never been an identified associated disease of the Lumbee. Thus far, no published studies have shown cicatricial alopecia as occurring in identical twins or in Native Americans. This case report discusses the issues of haircare practices and genetics in contributing to cicatricial alopecia.
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