Lichen sclerosus among women in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic dermatosis for which the true prevalence is not well established. LS remains an underrecognized and undertreated disease, and treatment patterns and differences among various specialties that care for patients with LS are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the prevalence of diagnosed vulvar LS, demographic characteristics, and diagnostic and treatment patterns in the United States. METHODS: A database comprising >21.7 million women with commercial insurance in the United States was analyzed, and the largest cohort of patients with LS in the United States to date was identified. RESULTS: We found that obstetricians/gynecologists are diagnosing and managing approximately half of women with LS, and regardless of specialty, the majority of providers are appropriately prescribing high-potency topical steroids. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LS may truly be underrecognized and underdiagnosed, especially in younger women.

Diagnosis and management of vulvar cancer: A review.

Vulvar malignancies represent a serious gynecologic health concern, especially given the increasing incidence over the past several decades. Squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma are common subtypes, although other neoplasms, such as basal cell carcinoma and Paget disease of the vulva, might be seen. Many vulvar cancers are initially misdiagnosed as inflammatory conditions, delaying diagnosis and worsening prognosis. It is essential that dermatologists are familiar with characteristic findings for each malignancy to ensure appropriate diagnosis and management. Herein, we review the unique epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of each major vulvar malignancy, as well as discuss their respective prognoses and current management recommendations.

Melanoma risk after in vitro fertilization: A review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The role of female sex hormones in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma (MM) remains controversial. Although melanocytes appear to be hormonally responsive, the effect of estrogen on MM cells is less clear. Available clinical data does not consistently demonstrate that increased endogenous hormones from pregnancy or increased exogenous hormones from oral contraceptive pills and hormone replacement affect MM prevalence and outcome. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine potential associations between in vitro fertilization (IVF) and melanoma. METHODS: A literature review was conducted. Primary outcomes were reported as associations between IVF and melanoma risk compared with the general population. Secondary outcomes included associations stratified by type of IVF regimen and subgroup, such as parous versus nulliparous patients. RESULTS: Eleven studies met our inclusion criteria. Five studies found no increased risk for MM among IVF users compared with the general population. Two studies found an increase in MM in clomiphene users, and 4 studies found an increase in MM among patients who were gravid or parous either before or after IVF. CONCLUSION: The reviewed studies do not reveal consistent patterns of association between IVF and MM among all infertile women. However, the data indicates a potential increased risk for MM in ever-parous patients treated with IVF. High-quality studies including a large number of MM cases that control for well-established MM risk factors are needed to adequately assess the relationship between IVF and MM, particularly among ever-parous women.

Physiologic changes of pregnancy: A review of the literature.

Throughout pregnancy, the body undergoes a variety of physiologic changes. The cutaneous findings can be most noticeable and often worrisome to both physicians and patients. Obstetricians and dermatologists must be able to differentiate between changes that are benign and those that may be pathologic. Most physicians recognize benign changes that are commonly described in literature such as hyperpigmentation, melasma, striae gravidarum, and telogen effluvium; however, they may be unaware of changes that tend to be less frequently discussed. This comprehensive review provides a broad overview of the physiologic cutaneous changes that occur during pregnancy as described in the literature over the past 10 years.

Pigmentation and Pregnancy: Knowing What Is Normal.

Changes in melanocytic nevi during pregnancy are frequently attributed to the new hormonal milieu and are dismissed without concern for malignancy. Recent studies suggest that pregnancy itself does not induce significant change in nevi, and delays in the assessment of changing moles may contribute to the often more advanced nature of melanomas diagnosed during or soon after pregnancy. Nevi on the breasts and abdomen can grow as a result of skin expansion, but studies have found no significant changes in nevi located in more stable areas such as the back or lower extremities. There is also insufficient evidence to support the notion that nevi darken during pregnancy. As such, any changing nevus that would raise concern for malignancy in a nonpregnant patient should do so in a pregnant patient as well. Pregnancy can, however, induce physiologic pigmentary changes that are often worrisome to both patients and physicians. These benign changes include melasma, pigmentary demarcation lines, secondary areola, and linea nigra as well as other less common findings. It is important for physicians to recognize these changes as physiologic to provide adequate reassurance to their patients and avoid unnecessary stress.

Nevi and pregnancy.

Changes in the moles of pregnant women are frequently attributed to pregnancy, but recent studies suggest that pregnancy does not induce significant physiologic changes in nevi. It is common for nevi on the breasts and abdomen to grow with normal skin expansion, but studies that have examined melanocytic nevi on the backs or lower extremities have found no significant changes in size during pregnancy. Several studies have also investigated the belief that moles darken during pregnancy and have found insufficient evidence to support this idea. Dermoscopically, transient changes have been identified, but none are suggestive of melanoma. Results vary in terms of histologic changes seen in samples taken from pregnant women, but all authors agree that any histopathologic features consistent with melanoma should be viewed as melanoma and not attributed to pregnancy. Biopsy specimens should be obtained promptly from any changing mole that would raise concern for malignancy in a nonpregnant patient. Such procedures can be performed safely during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and melanoma.

Malignant melanoma is the most common malignancy during pregnancy, and is diagnosed during childbearing age in approximately one-third of women diagnosed with melanoma. The impact of hormonal changes during pregnancy and from iatrogenic hormones on melanoma is controversial. Women undergo immunologic changes during pregnancy that may decrease tumor surveillance. In addition, hormone receptors are found on some melanomas. In spite of these observations, the preponderance of evidence does not support a poorer prognosis for pregnancy-associated melanomas. There is also a lack of evidence that oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy worsens melanoma prognosis.

Defining Field Cancerization of the Skin Using Noninvasive Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging to Detect and Monitor Actinic Keratosis in Ingenol Mebutate 0.015%- Treated Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the ability of optical coherence tomography to detect clinical and subclinical actinic keratoses confirmed by histopathology. The efficacy of ingenol mebutate treatment of actinic keratosis was also evaluated using optical coherence tomography, and correlation of treatment efficacy with severity of local skin reactions was determined. DESIGN: Single-arm, open-label, split-face study. SETTING: Hospital outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Male subjects (N=30) with seven actinic keratoses. MEASUREMENTS: A suspected actinic keratosis and the normal-appearing, perilesional skin were imaged, biopsied for histopathologic analysis, and the results compared with the clinical and a blinded optical coherence tomography diagnosis. Treatment with ingenol mebutate gel 0.015% was randomly administered to three clinically suspected actinic keratoses and the perilesional skin; three additional, suspected actinic keratoses lesions and perilesional areas were left untreated. Clinical and optical coherence tomography images were obtained for all lesions. Severity of local skin reactions was recorded to evaluate the relationship between local skin reaction and treatment effect. RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography analysis had a 100-percent (28/28) correlation with the clinical diagnosis of actinic keratosis and detected 16 of 22 (73%) histopathologically confirmed subclinical lesions from perilesional skin sites. By optical coherence tomography assessment, the clearance rate for clinically observed lesions was 76 percent for ingenol mebutate-treated areas versus 11 percent for untreated areas; the clearance rate for treated subclinical lesions was 88 percent versus 43 percent for untreated areas. Clearance rates did not vary with the severity of the local response. CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography is effective at detecting clinical and subclinical actinic keratoses and monitoring their response to treatment.

Improved patient satisfaction using ingenol mebutate gel 0.015% for the treatment of facial actinic keratoses: a prospective pilot study.

Actinic keratoses (AKs), especially on areas of the face, have a negative impact on a patient's quality of life (QoL). These lesions manifest on sun-damaged skin and have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Field-directed therapy alone and in combination with lesion-directed treatment is effective in clearing both visible and nonvisible AK lesions. Topical treatments of AKs thus have the potential to improve a patient's well-being. However, evidence demonstrating improvements in patient QoL is limited, and is mostly based on observational or retrospective studies. Some prospective studies have reported unchanged or even worsening QoL despite excellent treatment outcomes. Our prospective, pilot study demonstrated a significant increase in QoL in 28 subjects with AKs of the face treated with ingenol mebutate gel 0.015%. QoL was assessed at days 0 and 60 using the Skindex-16 survey. Mean overall scores improved from 24.5% at baseline to 15.5% at day 60 (P=0.031). Improvements in QoL were consistent with an 80% reduction in AK lesion number at day 60. These improved QoL findings are in line with those from a recent retrospective study using ingenol mebutate 0.015% gel. This study therefore further demonstrates the potential for field therapy to improve both treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography as a Means of Identifying Earlier Stage Basal Cell Carcinomas while Reducing the Use of Diagnostic Biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography for basal cell carcinoma and the proportion of biopsies that could be avoided if optical coherence tomography is used to rule-in surgery. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, observational study. SETTING: Dermatology clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients with clinically challenging pink lesions suspicious for basal cell carcinoma. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical, dermoscopic, and optical coherence tomography images were obtained for all subjects. At each stage, the clinician made a diagnosis (pathology + subtype if applicable), and assessed his/her own confidence in the diagnosis. RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography significantly (p<0.01) improved sensitivity and specificity over clinical or dermoscopic evaluation. The percentage of correct diagnoses was 57.4 percent (clinical), 69.6 percent (dermoscopy), and 87.8 percent (optical coherence tomography). Optical coherence tomography significantly increased the certainty of diagnosis; clinicians indicated they were certain (>95% confident) in 17 percent of lesions examined clinically, in 38.6 percent examined with dermoscopy, and in 70 percent examined with optical coherence tomography. With the use of optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, more than 1 in 3 patients could avoid a diagnostic biopsy. CONCLUSION: In a population of clinically challenging lesions, optical coherence tomography improved diagnostic certainty by a factor of four over clinical examination alone and improved diagnostic accuracy by 50 percent (57-88%). The addition of optical coherence tomography to other standard assessments can improve the false-positive rate and give a high degree of certainty for ruling in a positive diagnosis for basal cell carcinoma. A reduction of 36 percent in overall biopsies could be achieved by sending high certainty basal cell carcinoma positive optical coherence tomography diagnoses straight to surgery.

Coupling anomalies in SimGen/Si/SiO2 waveguide systems.

Sharp coupling anomalies exist in a SiGe superlattice buried in a silicon-on-insulator waveguide structure. We study these anomalies using a rigorous coupled wave analysis and examine their suitability for silicon- compatible waveguide-mode resonant filters for optical telecommunications. Active functions could include optical detection, switching, and modulation. We predict that a very weak, sub band-edge absorption can improve filter contrast or provide high quantum efficiency detection.