Faculty Bibliography

Background/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED:This study sought to determine the prevalence of diagnosed vulvar LS, demographic characteristics, and diagnostic and treatment patterns in the United States. Methods/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED: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/UNASSIGNED:Our results suggest that LS may truly be underrecognized and underdiagnosed, especially in younger women.

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's disease of the vulva may 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 in order 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.

BACKGROUND:The role of female sex hormones in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma (MM) remains controversial. While 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, impact 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, as compared to 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 of MM among IVF users as compared to the general population. Two studies found an increase in MM in clomiphene users. Four studies found an increase in MM among patients who were gravid or parous either before or after IVF. CONCLUSIONS:The reviewed studies do not reveal consistent patterns of association between IVF and MM among all infertile women. However, the data indicates that there may be an increased risk of MM in ever-parous patients treated with IVF. High-quality studies, which include a large number of MM cases and control for well-established MM risk factors, are needed to adequately assess the relationship between IVF and MM, particularly among ever-parous women.