Publications by authors named "Brigit A Lapolla"
Article Synopsis
- Regular use of OTC sunscreen is crucial for preventing skin cancer, but it is rarely covered by Medicaid plans across the U.S.
- A review of 111 Medicaid preferred drug lists revealed that only five states cover sunscreen, putting a financial burden on low-income individuals and families.
- The text analyzes the current Medicaid policies on sunscreen coverage and estimates the costs related to this essential skin cancer prevention method.
Article Synopsis
- - The most common types of liposarcomas are well-differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcomas, usually found in the deep retroperitoneum or extremities, while atypical lipomatous tumors (ALT) are rare and less studied when located superficially.
- - A case study of a 54-year-old man revealed an ALT on his left upper back that had unusual characteristics, including significant pleomorphism and specific gene amplifications, which sets it apart from typical ALT cases reported.
- - The report discusses the diagnostic process and histopathological findings of the tumor, while providing an overview of different liposarcoma subtypes and management strategies.
Article Synopsis
- There are currently no established maintenance protocols for cutaneous lymphomas, prompting a study to analyze treatments and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The research included data from 149 patients across nine international institutions, revealing younger patients tended to have earlier stages of the disease and more commonly received skin-directed therapies.
- Findings indicated that treatment interruptions were linked to disease progression and poorer outcomes, with patients experiencing interruptions twice as likely to progress compared to those who maintained their treatments, highlighting the importance of continuous maintenance therapies.
Article Synopsis
- Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) is a chronic skin condition primarily affecting female genitalia, while morphea is a rare inflammatory skin disorder characterized by hard skin patches.
- There is an ongoing debate among researchers about whether LSA and morphea are related or separate conditions, particularly when they occur in the same patient.
- A case is reported involving a 62-year-old woman with both extragenital LSA-morphea overlap in her inguinal folds and subsequent development of genital LSA three months later, highlighting the rare progression between these two conditions that had not been previously documented.
Article Synopsis
- Skin cancer mortality rates are on the rise, emphasizing the need for survival analysis to identify at-risk individuals and effective interventions.
- Current statistical methods struggle to integrate diverse data types (e.g., genetics, demographics) and predictive algorithms, limiting their effectiveness.
- Advances in AI, including supervised and unsupervised learning, hold promise for improving skin cancer survival analysis, though most studies focus on melanoma, indicating a need for broader research on various skin cancers and the combination of different data types.
The etiology of CTCL is a subject of extensive investigation. Researchers have explored links between CTCL and environmental chemical exposures, such as aromatic hydrocarbons (eg, pesticides and benzene), as well as infectious factors, including various viruses (eg, human T-lymphotropic virus [HTLV]-I and HTLV-II) and bacteria (eg, Staphylococcus aureus). There has been growing emphasis on the role of malignant inflammation in CTCL development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMonoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) is a clonal plasma cell disorder that is considered preneoplastic, asymptomatic, and only requiring observation. However, MGUS may result in cutaneous complications, which are poorly understood, causing treatment delays and patient suffering. We present 30 patients with cutaneous findings associated with MGUS, characterizing clinical presentations, isoforms, treatments, and outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a heterogenous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Similar presentation to benign conditions, significant genetic variation, and lack of definitive biomarkers contributes to diagnostic delay. The etiology of CTCL is unknown, and environmental exposures, such as geographic, occupational, chemicals, sunlight, and insects have been investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Patients facing a cutaneous lymphoma diagnosis frequently turn to the internet for information but finding patient-accessible education may be a challenge.
Objective: To investigate accessibility and readability of patient-oriented online education on cutaneous lymphomas, including cutaneous T-cell and B-cell lymphoma subtypes.
Methods: This study queried a search engine for 11 cutaneous lymphoma terms, resulting in 1083 webpages.
Decision paralysis (DP) can be defined as a patient's inability to commit to a physician and/or initiate appropriate treatment for their condition. An incessant search for greater physician opinions often leads to treatment delay, disease progression, and initiation of care at more advanced stages. Despite the harms associated with DP, a dearth of research on the issue remains.
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