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Mohs micrographic surgery in the treatment of lentigo maligna and melanoma
Author(s) -
Temple Claire L.F.,
Arlette John P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.20305
Subject(s) - medicine , lentigo maligna , lentigo maligna melanoma , melanoma , lesion , breslow thickness , pathological , nodular melanoma , dermatology , surgery , cancer , pathology , sentinel lymph node , cancer research , breast cancer
Background and Objectives The treatment of lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) is challenging due to lesion location, size, patient age, and potential for recurrence and spread. The largest studies to date confirm that for melanocytic tumours, MMS provides high local control rates while minimizing tissue loss. Herein we report our local control rate for melanoma treated by MMS over a decade. Methods Charts were reviewed on all patients with melanocytic tumors treated by a single physician (JPA) using MMS over the time period of 1993–2002. Demographic, surgical and pathological details were recorded. Patients were followed for local, regional and distant recurrences. Results The patient population was comprised of 199 patients with 202 melanomas. There were 69 invasive lesions, with a mean Breslow depth of 0.92 mm (0.2–3.6 mm). The mean number of levels required to clear the lesions was 2.7 (1–7), resulting in a mean defect size of 11.8 cm 2 (0.9–70.7 cm 2 ). Patients with LMM were significantly older (73.2 vs. 66.5 yrs, p = 0.012) and had larger defects after MMS (16.74 cm 2 vs. 10.27 cm 2 ) than patients with LM. At a mean follow‐up of 29.8 months, there were no local recurrences, four regional recurrences, and two distant recurrences. Conclusion MMS is an effective modality for the clearance of melanocytic tumors. J. Surg. Oncol. 2006;94:287–292. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.