Midline cutaneous anomalies of the craniospinal axis.

Patients with midline cutaneous anomalies of the craniospinal axis can be indicative of underlying embryonic defects, such as neural tube defects. Lack of familiarity with these midline aberrant skin findings may lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. In this review, midline cutaneous anomalies of the craniospinal axis including aplasia cutis congenita, cranial and spinal dysraphism, and other developmental anomalies are explored in detail with emphasis on cutaneous clues to the diagnosis and appropriate workup.

Syringotropic Mycosis Fungoides: A Variant of Folliculotropic Mycosis Fungoides or a Distinct Entity?

Syringotropic mycosis fungoides (MF) is classified under folliculotropic MF. Although there is significant overlap between the 2, this study demonstrates that folliculotropism is frequently present in syringotropic MF, and when not present, the specimen did not include a follicle to examine. In addition, few of the pathology reports mentioned folliculotropism or syringotropism, although this is an important prognostic feature.

Approaching the Single Accreditation System: Curricular Variation in Allopathic, Osteopathic, and Dually Accredited Family Medicine Residency Programs.

BACKGROUND: With the approval of a single accreditation system for graduate medical education, allopathic and osteopathic residency programs are moving toward 1 set of accreditation standards, with full implementation planned for 2020. Minimal research has been done on the variations between allopathic and osteopathic family medicine (FM) residency programs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine variations in allopathic, osteopathic, and dually accredited FM programs, and to allow them to be addressed. METHODS: We collected information in July 2014 on faculty-to-resident ratio; number of half-days spent in clinic; and the months performing maternity, pediatric, and surgical care for each program from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Location and number of approved positions were also obtained. Data were compared between allopathic, osteopathic, and dually accredited programs. RESULTS: The number of approved positions was twice as large for allopathic and dually accredited FM programs (n = 24) compared to osteopathic programs (n = 12). Osteopathic FM programs offered 5 months of surgical training compared to 2 months in allopathic and dually accredited residencies, and resident stipends in osteopathic programs were about $2,000 lower than those in allopathic and dually accredited programs. All programs had similar faculty-to-resident ratios (1:2.8-3.3), and offered comparable months of maternity (3 months) and pediatric care (4 months) rotations. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient experiences appeared similar between all types of FM residency programs. Key differences included smaller program size and more months of surgical experience in osteopathic programs. These differences may become increasingly important as osteopathic programs strive to meet accreditation requirements.

The effect of dual accreditation on family medicine residency programs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 1985, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Board of Trustees agreed to allow residency programs to become dually accredited by the AOA and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Despite the increase in such programs, there has been minimal research comparing these programs to exclusively ACGME-accredited residencies. This study examines the association between dual accreditation and suggested markers of quality. METHODS: Standard characteristics such as regional location, program structure (community or university based), postgraduate year one (PGY-1) positions offered, and salary (PGY-1) were obtained for each residency program. In addition, the faculty to resident ratio in the family medicine clinic and the number of half days residents spent in the clinic each week were recorded. Initial Match rates and pass rates of new graduates on the ABFM examination from 2009 to 2013 were also obtained. Variables were analyzed using chi-square and Student's t test. Logistic regression models were then created to predict a program's 5-year aggregate initial Match rate and Board pass rate in the top tertile as compared to the lowest tertile. RESULTS: Dual accreditation was obtained by 117 (27.0%) of programs. Initial analyses revealed associations between dually accredited programs and mean year of initial ACGME program accreditation, regional location, program structure, tracks, and alternative medicine curriculum. When evaluated in logistic regression, dual accreditation status was not associated with Match rates or ABFM pass rates. CONCLUSIONS: By examining suggested markers of program quality for dually accredited programs in comparison to ACGME-only accredited programs, this study successfully established both differences and similarities among the two types.