The Controversy and Value of Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Melanoma and Melanoma in Situ on the Trunk and Extremities

Abstract

BACKGROUND The use of Mohs surgery for melanoma on the trunk and extremities is not supported in the guidelines of dermatology, but is widely used in the real world. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to expose the value of Mohs surgery for melanoma on the trunk and extremities for consideration of updating the guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database 7 to identify patients whose melanomas would likely have recurred using standard surgical margins. A prediction model was used to evaluate the value of Mohs surgery. RESULTS The model predicted that 2,847 (2%) patients with melanoma on the trunk and extremities would likely recur each year with standard surgical margins even after re-excision when positive margins were identified, compared with 0.1% after Mohs surgery. This likely would result in the upstaging of 27% of melanoma in situ patients and 13% of patients with invasive melanoma. The upstaging would also result in a decrease in melanoma-specific survival and the death of 1% of patients with true local recurrences of melanoma. CONCLUSION Mohs surgery has value for melanoma on the trunk and extremities by minimizing local recurrence and death from disease progression.