BACKGROUNDSkin cancer is the most common malignancy and can be treated in various ways. One
treatment modality is Mohs micrographic surgery. Due to the increasing incidence
of skin cancer in the last decades, there is a need for improvement of the Mohs
technique to optimize its effectiveness. OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the use of dermoscopy to guide demarcation
of Mohs micrographic surgery margins and ascertain whether this method can reduce
operative time and, therefore, reduce surgical morbidity and cost. METHODS AND MATERIALSThe sample comprised 44 patients who underwent Mohs micrographic surgery,
allocated into two groups: the control group and the intervention group. In the
latter, surgical margins were guided by dermoscopy. RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences between the two groups by
chi-square analysis (p = 0.399). CONCLUSIONAlthough outcomes were similar in the two groups, demonstrating that dermoscopy
does not help in the demarcation of surgical margins for Mohs micrographic
surgery, the study provides a practical proposal for improvement of the Mohs
technique.