Despite low utilization, patients receiving Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) are more likely to achieve negative surgical margins and less like to receive radiotherapy, a recent study has discovered. Researchers conducted a cohort analysis from the National Cancer Data Base from 1998 to 2012 of nonmetastatic nonmelanoma skin cancers deemed appropriate for MMS. They discovered that of the 15,121 patients, 8% received MMS, 30% primary excision, 12% narrow re-excision, and 50% wide re-excision. Researchers also found:

• MMS was negatively influenced by community cancer programs, living in the Northeast, lower education, uninsured status, and administration of radiotherapy.

• High-risk areas, lower comorbidity score, and microcystic adnexal carcinoma were associated with higher likelihood of receiving MMS.

• After adjusting for tumor size, tumor location, and histology, MMS remained an independent predictor of achieving negative surgical margins.

Citation: Ghareeb ER, Dulmage BO, Vargo, JA, Balasubramani GK, Beriwal S. Underutilization of Mohs Micrographic surgery for less common cutaneous malignancies in the United States. [Published online ahead of print April 6, 2016]. Dermatol Surg. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000000705.