ABSTRACT
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly Wegener's granulomatosis, is a small- and medium-vessel vasculitis with characteristic cutaneous morphologic presentation and systemic involvement. Most patients have palpable purpura at some point in their disease course, but this is not always the presenting manifestation. This autoimmune disorder can affect a range of organs, with the upper and lower respiratory tract, kidneys, and nervous system being commonly implicated, while gastrointestinal and cardiac involvement is less frequent. This is a 44-year-old female presenting to the emergency department (ED) with polyarthralgia and palpable purpura. Palpable purpura was distributed on the oral palate, elbow, and lower back, and a punch biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV). While this was an atypical distribution for leukocytoclastic vasculitis, the skin biopsy provided the necessary evidence to diagnose GPA. This case characterizes non-specific and atypical signs and symptoms of GPA that all providers should be aware of in order to diagnose the condition early in its disease course.
ABSTRACT
Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer, but the utilization of palliative care (PC) in patients with this cancer has not previously been investigated in the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Methods: Patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma (2004-2017) were identified within the NCDB. Cross tabulations with Chi-square analysis were performed to evaluate frequencies of palliative care use by patient, facility, and tumor characteristics. Multivariate logistic binary regression was performed to evaluate relationships between patient, treatment facility, and tumor characteristics and the use of palliative care. Results: A total of 7498 patients were analyzed with 2.8% of patients diagnosed having any form of palliative care utilization. Of this group, 53.37% received PC within the first 12 months after diagnosis. Of the 2.8% of patients receiving PC the most common forms of PC utilized were non-curative symptom-directed surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, or a combination of these modalities (56.7%). Palliative care usage was increased in patients with greater tumor diameter, tumors in the bones of the midline, or stage IV tumors. Palliative care usage was decreased in patients living within 25-49 miles of their treatment facility, those living in pacific states, those with chondroblastic osteosarcoma, or those with private insurance. Conclusion: Palliative care use in patients with osteosarcoma increases with tumor stage, tumor size, or more proximal tumors, but overall utilization remains markedly low. Future studies should further define these patterns of care and help expand the utilization of PC.
