Outcomes for Invasive Melanomas Treated With Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has been used effectively to treat invasive melanoma. OBJECTIVE To further study the safety and efficacy of MMS in the treatment of invasive melanoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS A retrospective cohort study evaluated 123 melanomas excised using MMS with MART-1 immunostain. Local recurrence, metastasis, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates were calculated. These were compared with historical controls. RESULTS Among included patients, 78 were men (63%) and 45 were women (37%), with a mean age of 66.48 years. Mean follow-up time was 1,273 days (3.49 years). Local recurrence was identified in 2/123 (1.63%; 95% confidence interval, 0.20%–5.75%) lesions. Local recurrence was identified in 1/70 (1.43%; 95% confidence interval, 0.04%–7.70%) of head and neck cases. Tumor location was head and neck in 70 lesions (56.9%). Overall survival was 95.12% and disease-specific survival was 100%. CONCLUSION Mohs micrographic surgery is an effective treatment method for invasive melanoma, as evidenced by low recurrence rates and high rates of disease-free survival.

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