Differentiating seborrheic keratosis from melanoma among lesions exhibiting blue-white veil: A retrospective study.

Background: Differentiating melanoma (MM) from seborrheic keratosis (SK) containing a blue-white veil (BWV) remains challenging.

Objective: Identify dermoscopic features that can improve upon the differentiation between MMs and SKs exhibiting BWV.

Methods: Images from 110 MMs and 121 SKs containing BWV were aggregated, and 91 MMs and 62 SKs from this data set had complete agreement on the presence of BWV according to 3 expert dermoscopists.

Are Otolaryngologists Seeing More Cough? Longitudinal Trends and Patterns.

Objective: Otolaryngologists play an increasing role in managing cough, but little data exists examining the demographics of this patient population and the referral patterns that influence their access to care. This study sought to elucidate these factors using a longitudinal, nationwide database to minimize sampling bias and identify trends representative of the national population.

Study Design: Nationally representative survey.

Preoperative Hypoalbuminemia Predicts 30-day Complications in Head and Neck Microvascular Surgery.

Introduction: Hypoalbuminemia, a marker for poor nutritional status, has been associated with postoperative complications, including head and neck cancer surgery. This study investigates the impact of hypoalbuminemia on head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study queried the 2005-2021 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases.

Positive Trends in Racial Disparities for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery.

Objective: To evaluate national trends in racial disparities for patients undergoing head and neck reconstructive surgery.

Methods: Retrospective analysis using the 2008 to 2021 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients receiving microvascular free tissue transfer were eligible for inclusion.

Longitudinal Analysis of the Use of Facial Reanimation Procedures for Bell's Palsy.

Treatment of Bell's palsy ranges from medical management with high-dose corticosteroids to complex facial reanimation procedures. To characterize the number of static, dynamic, and combined facial reanimation procedures for the management of Bell's palsy using a national database over time. This retrospective cohort study included patients in the 2013-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database with a postoperative diagnosis of Bell's palsy.

Measuring food insecurity among a national sample of children with recurrent acute otitis media.

Introduction: Acute otitis media is one of the most common reasons for pediatric medical visits in the United States. Additionally, past studies have linked food insecurity and malnutrition with increased infections and worse health outcomes. However, there is a lack of information on the risk factors for food insecurity in specific patient populations, including the pediatric recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) population.

A Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Analysis of Reimbursement Trends in Laryngology from 2000 to 2021.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to characterize Medicare reimbursement trends for laryngology procedures over the last two decades.

Methods: This analysis used CMS' Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Look-Up Tool to determine the reimbursement rate of 48 common laryngology procedures, which were divided into four groups based on their practice setting and clinical use: office-based, airway, voice disorders, and dysphagia. The PFS reports the physician service reimbursement for "facilities" and global reimbursement for "non-facilities".

Major National Shifts to Outpatient Total Knee Arthroplasties in the United States: A 10-Year Trends Analysis of Procedure Volumes, Complications, and Healthcare Utilizations (2010 to 2020).

Background: The removal of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from inpatient-only lists accelerated changes in orthopaedic surgical practices across the United States. This study aimed to (1) quantify the annual volume of inpatient/outpatient primary TKAs; (2) compare patient characteristics before/after the year 2018; and (3) compare annual trends in 30-day readmissions, 30-day complications, and healthcare utilization parameters for inpatient/outpatient TKAs.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was reviewed (January 2010 to December 2020) for patients who underwent primary TKA (n = 470,456).

Geographic disparities in access to immunotherapy clinical trials for metastatic melanoma.

Survival outcomes for metastatic melanoma have drastically improved with the advent of immunotherapy. Access to ongoing immunotherapy clinical trials has become increasingly important to patients with advanced disease. We sought to quantify geographic disparities in access to these trials by U.