Journal of general internal medicine
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Lichen sclerosus is a commonly misdiagnosed disease that is characterized by thinned, hypopigmented, crinkled skin that often forms a figure-eight shape around the vaginal and anal openings. We present a case of advanced lichen sclerosus in a 53-year-old female patient prescribed a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor after the excision of a breast cancer tumor. ⋯ Research has shown that lichen sclerosus is more common in low estrogen states, and thus it is logical that aromatase inhibitors could increase a patient's risk for developing this disease. We therefore propose that all patients prescribed aromatase inhibitors undergo regular vulvo-vaginal exams to rule out lichen sclerosus and other hypoestrogen-related vulvo-vaginal problems.
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The US Federal Government is investing up to $29 billion in incentives for meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). However, the effect of EHRs on ambulatory quality is unclear, with several large studies finding no effect. ⋯ This is one of the first studies to find a positive association between EHRs and ambulatory quality in a community-based setting.