Direct to Patient Synchronous Teledermatology During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teledermatology became a popular mode of health care delivery. Thus, deciphering which diagnoses are best suited for synchronous video visits is important to guide providers on appropriate patient care. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 1,647 submitted synchronous video visits from September 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 at a single, large academic institution. Results: Video visits' follow-up rate was significantly associated with diagnosis subtype (p < 0.001). Compared with patients with skin lesions and nonskin dermatologic conditions, patients with a rash had higher odds of being recommended to have their follow-up visit as a video visit (odds ratio [OR] = 0.222, p < 0.001; OR = 0.296, p < 0.001). Patients with a rash had lower odds of being recommended to have their follow-up visit as an in-person office visit when compared with skin lesions (OR = 9.679, p < 0.001), nonskin dermatologic conditions (OR = 4.055, p < 0.001), and other skin dermatologic conditions (OR = 2.23, p < 0.01). Demographically, employed, middle-aged patients with private insurance made up the majority of video visit usage. African American patients were less likely to utilize a video visit compared with Asian patients (OR = 2.06, p < 0.038). Conclusions: Certain dermatologic diagnoses, most notably rashes, are more conducive to video visit management. Rashes made up 86% of new patient video visits, were more likely to have video visit follow-up if needed and were more likely to not require further follow-up indicating that the management of rashes from initial diagnosis to completion in care is suitable for video visit management.

Primary cutaneous malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor: Case of a rare tumor with review of the literature.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) are mesenchymal neoplasms with characteristic epithelioid or spindled cytomorphology that typically grow around blood vessels. These tumors are phenotypically and immunohistochemically distinct, expressing markers of both melanocytic and smooth muscle differentiation. Herein, we describe a case of histopathologically malignant cutaneous PEComa without metastatic spread, with review of the pertinent literature. Telescoping punch biopsy demonstrated an epithelioid neoplasm with marked atypia, hypercellularity, and increased mitotic activity. Immunohistochemical stains for HMB-45, NK1-C3, PGP9.5, MiTF, CD10, and CD68 were positive within tumor cells. In addition, there was diffuse expression of caldesmon and focal cytoplasmic staining for smooth muscle actin on the excision specimen. The patient underwent treatment with surgical excision with adjuvant radiation and surveillance computed tomography (CT). The patient remains free of recurrence or metastatic disease after 10 months of follow-up. To our knowledge, this is only the third reported case of a malignant cutaneous PEComa reported in the literature to date.

Basal cell carcinoma of the vulva: a case report and systematic review of the literature.

The vulva is an unusual site for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Vulvar BCC accounts for <1% of all BCCs and <5% of all vulvar malignancies. We report the case of an 83 year-old woman who presented with a 2-month history of a tender labial growth, with histopathology confirming nodular BCC. We conducted a systematic literature review of the characteristics of reported cases of vulvar BCCs. A comprehensive systematic review of articles indexed for MEDLINE and Embase yielded 96 reports describing 437 patients with 446 BCCs of the vulva. The mean age at presentation was 70 (range 20-100). Most women had no underlying vulvar disease. Approximately 60% of cases were of the nodular subtype. Treatment approach varied widely with over half of cases treated with wide local or local excision. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for vulvar BCC was first reported in 1988 with seven total MMS cases reported. Twenty-three cases of recurrence have been reported; 21 of these cases after local excision but none following MMS. Vulvar BCC is a rarely reported cancer that affects older women predominantly. MMS represents a promising treatment for BCC in this anatomic location.

Necessity of office visits for acute respiratory infections in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most common symptomatic reason to seek ambulatory care, but many ARI visits may not be necessary. OBJECTIVE: To measure the proportion of primary care ARI visits that may not require an office visit. METHODS: We identified 58398 ARI visits to 14 primary care practices between May 2011 and May 2012 and randomly selected 500 visits, 439 of which were new ARI visits. We separated non-visit-required information [e.g. history of present illness (HPI), past medical history, etc.] from information that required an office visit (e.g. physical exam, testing, etc.). Reviewing non-visit-required information, we identified the diagnosis (HPI diagnosis) and whether office visit appeared necessary. Independently, we reviewed the visit-required information and determined if the visit changed antibiotic management. RESULTS: Based on non-visit-required information, 72% (316/439) of visits did not appear to require an office visit. The most common diagnoses were non-specific upper respiratory infection (39%), sinusitis (24%) and acute bronchitis (22%). The HPI diagnosis was an exact match for clinicians' diagnosis in 67% (213/316) of visits. After reviewing the visit-required information, antibiotic management did not change for 87% (276/316) of visits. For the remaining 13% (40/316) for which the visit changed management, the clinician prescribed an antibiotic for an antibiotic-appropriate diagnosis (65%; 26/40); prescribed an antibiotic for a non-antibiotic-appropriate diagnosis (25%; 10/40); or avoided an antibiotic prescription for patients with an HPI diagnosis of sinusitis (10%; 4/40). CONCLUSION: About two-thirds of primary care ARI visits may not be necessary for appropriate antibiotic management.