Utility of dermoscopy for demarcation of surgical margins in Mohs micrographic surgery

Abstract

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.

Dermoscopy prior to Mohs micrographic surgery does not improve tumour margin assessment and leads to fewer Mohs stages

“…Our study has shown that the use of noncontact dermoscopy to identify tumour margins prior to the debulking excision does not reduce the number of stages required in MMS, irrespective of clinician experience, clinical subtype and tumour histological growth pattern. Our findings are similar to those of others . Histological types under those we called ‘other’ included adnexal BCC, bowenoid actinic keratosis and a basisquamous variant of BCC.…”

“…Our findings are similar to those of others. 3 Histological types under those we called Dermoscopy examination of BCC may identify a range of changes depending on the histological and clinical subtype. Our study failed to show any benefit of dermoscopy across all clinical types.…”

Eyelid skin cancer: еpidemiology, prognosis

“…Риск возникновения новых опухолей в пересчете на 100 тыс. населения среди мужчин со-ставляет 56 новых случаев, среди женщин -61 [18]. Есть основание полагать, что в нашей стране актив-ная и пассивная (при раннем обращении больного к врачу) выявляемость заболевших врачами-офталь-мологами находится еще на весьма невысоком уров-не (рис.…”

Eyelid Cancer: Epidemiology and Prognosis

“…А между тем риск возникновения новых опухолей в пересчете на 100 тыс. населения среди мужчин со-ставляет 56 новых случаев, среди женщин -61 [17]. Есть основания полагать, что в нашей стране ранняя [6,12].…”