REVIEW OBJECTIVES/QUESTIONS The objective of the review is to evaluate the effectiveness of Mohs micrographic surgery on the mortality, recurrence and quality of life of patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers when compared with other treatment modalities.Specifically, it aims to examine the effectiveness of Mohs micrographic surgery compared with other treatment modalities such as excisional su...

A patient is presented with a recurrent plantar tumor present for 15 years. This hyperkeratotic exophytic tumor behaved historically and appeared clinically to be a verrucous carcinoma. Biopsy revealed Bowen's disease. The tumor was successfully treated with Mohs surgery. The tumor is presented due to its unusual location and its appearance that closely resembled verrucous carcinoma. The Mohs t...

Drs. Pennington and Leffell have provided an excellent overview of the current uses of Mohs micrographic surgery. The procedure has certainly come a long way since the days of Frederic Mohs and the application of zinc chloride paste (chemosurgery). Despite the fact that it has indeed become the “gold standard” for the removal of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), ther...

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a specialized type of minimal marginal surgery that offers cure rates superior to other options in the treatment of contiguous skin cancers in selected settings. Developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, the technique originally required in situ tissue fixation before excision. Most Mohs micrographic surgeons now use the fresh tissue technique exclusively. Horizontal...

OBJECTIVE To systematically review the literature for studies reporting on recurrence rates of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) after different therapies. DESIGN We reviewed all studies published in English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, or Italian between 1970 and 1997 that prospectively examined recurrence rates for at least 50 patients with primary BCCs observed for at least 5 years after tr...

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) may affect up to 1 billion children globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular preventive chemotherapy for at-risk individuals. The WHO Preventive Chemotherapy (PCT) Databank tracks annual treatments reported by national Ministries of Health (MOHs) to evaluate progress to coverage goals. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deliver STH...

Fibrous tumors of the soft tissue are usually benign, but some fibrous neoplasms such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX), and malignant fibrohistiocytoma (MFH) can be very destructive locally with a high recurrence rate after local excision. On occasion, they can metastasize. Previous reports have confirmed the high success rate of Mohs micrographic surgery ...

OBJECTIVE To learn if treatment of recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) varied in different practice settings. DESIGN Prospective cohort study of consecutive patients with recurrent NMSC. SETTING A university-based dermatology practice and the dermatology clinic at the affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Conventional therapies for NMSC were available at both sites. Patien...

For most cutaneous basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas (nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs)), data are insufficient to permit evidence-based choices among treatments. To compare tumor recurrence after treatments, we conducted a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients with primary NMSCs treated with the most common treatments, in two practices in 1999-2000. Recurrence was determined fr...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare Mohs micrographic surgery and traditional excision in terms of cost and outcomes. DESIGN We developed a computer-simulation, probabilistic, decision model to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis, with each patient serving as his or her own control. SETTING University of Connecticut dermatology clinic, a tertiary care referral center. PARTICIPANTS Input d...