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Dermatology Practical & Conceptual Nov 2022Several studies investigated the use of dermoscopy in the delineation of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) with conflicting results. (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Several studies investigated the use of dermoscopy in the delineation of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) for Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) with conflicting results.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of dermoscopy-guided MMS in the treatment of BCC.
METHODS
We included all comparative studies. Cases of BCC treated using dermoscopy-guided MMS (or slow MMS) were compared to those treated with curettage-guided MMS or "standard" MMS.
RESULTS
A total of 6 studies including 508 BCCs were reviewed. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of total margin clearance on the first MMS stage between BCCs removed using dermoscopy-guided MMS and those that had curettage or visual inspection. However, lateral margin involvement was significantly lower in BCCs that had dermoscopy-guided MMS.
CONCLUSIONS
Dermoscopy allows visualization of structures up to 1mm into the dermis. Therefore, it is rational to use it for lateral margin evaluation. Currently, there are two comparative studies showing the efficacy of dermoscopy for lateral margin evaluation during MMS. Future studies are required to develop an evidence-based recommendation regarding the utility of dermoscopy in MMS.
PubMed: 36534540
DOI: 10.5826/dpc.1204a176 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Jul 2022
Topics: Female; Humans; Mohs Surgery; Skin Neoplasms; Vulvar Neoplasms
PubMed: 34237353
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.06.875 -
JAAD International Dec 2023During Mohs surgery for melanoma, evidence has demonstrated that many surgeons opt for smaller initial margins than traditionally recommended (0.5 cm for in situ and...
BACKGROUND
During Mohs surgery for melanoma, evidence has demonstrated that many surgeons opt for smaller initial margins than traditionally recommended (0.5 cm for in situ and 1 cm for invasive). Literature regarding surgical outcomes based on initial margin is sparse.
OBJECTIVE
To determine differences in disease-specific survival of melanoma after Mohs micrographic surgery for varied initial surgical margins.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted on February 14, 2022, from MEDLINE via PubMed (1946-present), Embase (1974-present), Central (1991-present), and Scopus (1960-present). The primary outcome was disease-specific mortality.
RESULTS
Nineteen studies were included for final analysis. The overall disease-specific mortality rate of melanoma in all included studies was 0.5% (CI, 0.1-0.8; , .010). Disease-specific mortality for 1 to 5, 5, and 6 to 10 mm categories were 0.4% (CI, 0.0-0.9; , .074), 0.7% (CI, 0.2-1.3; , .2-1.3), and 0.4% (CI, -0.9 to 1.8; , .524), respectively. None of the variances across initial margin categories were statistically significant.
LIMITATIONS
Early-stage melanomas have low overall mortality rates. In our associated article, initial margins of 5 to 10 mm were shown to have the lowest rates of local recurrence.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, melanoma-specific mortality was not significantly impacted by the initial surgical margin taken during Mohs micrographic surgery.
PubMed: 37823046
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdin.2023.06.009 -
Cureus Jul 2020Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and consists of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell... (Review)
Review
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and consists of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common non-melanoma skin cancers. The ideal surgical treatment for BCC is complete removal, and it can be achieved either with safety margins or with micrographic control. The currently accepted treatment for basal cell carcinoma is an elliptical excision with a 4-mm surgical margin of clinically normal skin. However, because of cosmetic and functional constraints on the face, a 4-mm surgical margin is often not feasible. We used PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), and Google scholar as our main databases to search for the relevant published studies and used "Basal cell carcinoma" and "narrow excision margins" as Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords. Fifteen studies were finalized for the review, which included 3843 lesions. The size of the lesions ranged from 3 to 30 mm, with a mean size of 11.7 mm. Surgical margins varied from 1 to 5 mm. This review was done to evaluate if small, well-defined primary BCCs can be excised using narrow surgical margins. Based on the reviewed literature, we found that for primary well-demarcated BCCs smaller than 2 cm, in the low-risk group, a safety margin of 3 mm gives satisfactory results. In the high-risk group, and for lesions larger than 2 cm, a 4-6 mm margin is suggested for getting clear margins. Mohs micrographic surgery is advocated for more complex and recurrent lesions where the clinical margin is not apparent. However, micrographic surgery is not readily available in many places and requires more training and experience. Therefore, excision with 2 mm margins for clinically well-defined lesions with close follow-up can be followed to preserve the healthy tissue in anatomic constraint lesions and avoid the need for complex reconstructive procedures.
PubMed: 32821563
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.9211 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Dec 2014Malignant melanoma is a form of skin cancer associated with significant mortality once it has spread beyond the skin. Melanoma in situ (MIS) is the earliest... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Malignant melanoma is a form of skin cancer associated with significant mortality once it has spread beyond the skin. Melanoma in situ (MIS) is the earliest histologically recognisable stage of malignant melanoma and represents a precursor of invasive melanoma. Lentigo maligna (LM) represents a subtype of pre-invasive intraepidermal melanoma associated specifically with chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Over the past two decades, the incidence of MIS has increased significantly, even more than the invasive counterpart. There are several treatment options for MIS, but no consensus exists on the best therapeutic management of this condition.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of all available interventions, surgical and non-surgical, for the treatment of melanoma in situ, including LM.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the following databases up to November 2014: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library (2014, Issue 10), MEDLINE (from 1946), Embase (from 1974), LILACS (from 1982), African Index Medicus (from inception), IndeMED of India (from inception), and Index Medicus for the South-East Asia Region (IMSEAR) (from inception). We scanned the references of included and excluded studies for further references to relevant trials and searched five trials registries. We checked the abstracts of major dermatology and oncology conference proceedings, and we shared our lists of included and excluded studies with industry contacts and other experts in the field of melanoma to try to identify further relevant trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCT) on the management of MIS, including LM, that compared any intervention to placebo or active treatment. We included individuals, irrespective of age and sex, diagnosed with MIS, including LM, based on histological examination.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently evaluated possible studies for inclusion; extracted data from the included study using a standard data extraction form modified for our review; assessed risk of bias; and analysed data on efficacy, safety, and tolerability. They resolved any disagreements by discussion with a third author. We collected adverse effects information from included studies.
MAIN RESULTS
Our search identified only 1 study eligible for inclusion (and 1 ongoing study in active recruitment stage), which was a single centre, open label, parallel group, 2-arm RCT with 90 participants, who had 91 histologically proven LM lesions.Forty-four participants, with 44 LM lesions, were treated with imiquimod 5% cream 5 days per week plus tazarotene 0.1% gel 2 days/week for 3 months, and 46 participants, with 47 LM lesions, were treated with imiquimod 5% cream 5 days per week for 3 months. Two months after cessation of topical treatment, the initial tumour footprint was excised using 2 mm margins via a staged excision. This study was open label, and analysis was not intention-to-treat, leading to a high risk of incomplete outcome data.Our primary outcome 'Histological or clinical complete response' was measured at 5 months in 29/44 participants (66%) treated with imiquimod plus tazarotene (combination therapy) and 27/46 participants (59%) treated with imiquimod (monotherapy). The difference was not statistically significant (risk ratio (RR) 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81 to 1.55, P value = 0.48).With regard to our secondary outcomes on recurrence and inflammation, after a mean follow up of 42 months, no local recurrences were observed among complete responders. Difference in overall inflammation score between the 2 groups was significant (mean difference (MD) 0.6, 95% CI 0.2 to 1, P value = 0.004), with the mean overall inflammation score being significantly higher in the combination group.The study authors did not clearly report on side-effects. Because of adverse effects, there was a dropout rate of 6/44 participants (13.7%) in the combination group compared with 1/46 (2.2%) in the imiquimod monotherapy group (due to excessive inflammation) before the cessation of topical treatment (first 3 months), but this was not statistically significant (RR 6.27, 95% CI 0.79 to 50.02, P value = 0.08).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of high-quality evidence for the treatment of MIS and LM.For the treatment of MIS, we found no RCTs of surgical interventions aiming to optimise margin control (square method, perimeter technique, 'slow Mohs', staged radial sections, staged "mapped" excisions, or Mohs micrographic surgery), which are the most widely used interventions recommended as first-line therapy. The use of non-surgical interventions in selected cases (patients with contraindications to surgical interventions) may be effective and may be considered preferable for experienced providers and under close and adequate follow up.For the treatment of LM, we found no RCTs of surgical interventions, which remain the most widely used and recommended available treatment. The use of non-surgical interventions, such as imiquimod, as monotherapy may be effective and may be considered in selected cases where surgical procedures are contraindicated and used preferentially by experienced providers under close and adequate follow up. The use of topical therapies, such as 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod, as neoadjuvant therapies warrants further investigation. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the addition of tazarotene to imiquimod as adjuvant therapy; the current evidence suggests that it can increase topical inflammatory response and withdrawal of participants because of treatment-related side-effects.
Topics: Aminoquinolines; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle; Imiquimod; Male; Melanoma; Nicotinic Acids; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Skin Neoplasms; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
PubMed: 25526608
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010308.pub2 -
JAAD International Mar 2024
PubMed: 38025992
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdin.2023.09.009 -
Journal of the American Academy of... Oct 2022Mohs micrographic surgery or wide local excision is the treatment of choice for fibrohistiocytic tumors with metastatic potential, including atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX)... (Review)
Review
Surgical excision margins for fibrohistiocytic tumors, including atypical fibroxanthoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A probability model based on a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Mohs micrographic surgery or wide local excision is the treatment of choice for fibrohistiocytic tumors with metastatic potential, including atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) and cutaneous undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (cUPS). Since margin clearance is the strongest predictor of clinical recurrence, improved recommendations for appropriate surgical margins help delineate uniform excision margins when intraoperative margin assessment is not available.
OBJECTIVE
To determine appropriate surgical wide local excision margins for AFX and cUPS.
METHODS
Literature search (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to March 2020) to detect case-level data. Estimation of margins required using a mathematical model based on extracted cases without recurrences.
RESULTS
Probabilistic modeling based on 100 cases extracted from 37 studies showed peripheral clearance margin (ie, wide local excision margin) calculated to clear 95% of all tumors was 2 cm for AFX and 3 cm for cUPS. AFX tumors 1 cm or less required a margin of 1 cm.
LIMITATIONS
Data were extracted from published cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Atypical fibroxanthoma removed with at least a 2-cm peripheral excision margin is less likely to recur. Smaller tumors 1 cm or less can be treated with a more conservative margin. Margin-control surgical techniques are recommended to ensure complete removal while minimizing surgical morbidity.
Topics: Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous; Humans; Margins of Excision; Mohs Surgery; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Probability; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 34587553
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.09.036 -
Annals of Internal Medicine Oct 2018Most interventions for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have not been compared in head-to-head randomized trials. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Most interventions for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have not been compared in head-to-head randomized trials.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of treatments of primary BCC in adults.
DATA SOURCES
English-language searches of MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Embase from inception to May 2018; reference lists of guidelines and systematic reviews; and a search of ClinicalTrials.gov in August 2016.
STUDY SELECTION
Comparative studies of treatments currently used in adults with primary BCC.
DATA EXTRACTION
One investigator extracted data on recurrence, histologic clearance, clinical clearance, cosmetic outcomes, quality of life, and mortality, and a second reviewer verified extractions. Several investigators evaluated risk of bias for each study.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Forty randomized trials and 5 nonrandomized studies compared 18 interventions in 9 categories. Relative intervention effects and mean outcome frequencies were estimated using frequentist network meta-analyses. Estimated recurrence rates were similar for excision (3.8% [95% CI, 1.5% to 9.5%]), Mohs surgery (3.8% [CI, 0.7% to 18.2%]), curettage and diathermy (6.9% [CI, 0.9% to 36.6%]), and external-beam radiation (3.5% [CI, 0.7% to 16.8%]). Recurrence rates were higher for cryotherapy (22.3% [CI, 10.2% to 42.0%]), curettage and cryotherapy (19.9% [CI, 4.6% to 56.1%]), 5-fluorouracil (18.8% [CI, 10.1% to 32.5%]), imiquimod (14.1% [CI, 5.4% to 32.4%]), and photodynamic therapy using methyl-aminolevulinic acid (18.8% [CI, 10.1% to 32.5%]) or aminolevulinic acid (16.6% [CI, 7.5% to 32.8%]). The proportion of patients reporting good or better cosmetic outcomes was better for photodynamic therapy using methyl-aminolevulinic acid (93.8% [CI, 79.2% to 98.3%]) or aminolevulinic acid (95.8% [CI, 84.2% to 99.0%]) than for excision (77.8% [CI, 44.8% to 93.8%]) or cryotherapy (51.1% [CI, 15.8% to 85.4%]). Data on quality of life and mortality were too sparse for quantitative synthesis.
LIMITATION
Data are sparse, and effect estimates are imprecise and informed by indirect comparisons.
CONCLUSION
Surgical treatments and external-beam radiation have low recurrence rates for the treatment of low-risk BCC, but substantial uncertainty exists about their comparative effectiveness versus other treatments. Gaps remain regarding high-risk BCC subtypes and important outcomes, including costs.
PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (PROSPERO: CRD42016043353).
Topics: Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Skin Neoplasms
PubMed: 30242379
DOI: 10.7326/M18-0678 -
Journal of the American Academy of... May 2020To provide a formal statistical comparison of the efficacy of melanoma detection among different clinical settings. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To provide a formal statistical comparison of the efficacy of melanoma detection among different clinical settings.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis of all relevant observational studies on number needed to treat (NNT) in relation to melanoma was performed in MEDLINE. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis and reported NNTs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The subgroup analysis was related to clinical setting.
RESULTS
In all, 29 articles including a total of 398,549 biopsies/excisions were analyzed. The overall NNT was 9.71 (95% CI, 7.72-12.29): 22.62 (95% CI, 12.95-40.10) for primary care, 9.60 (95% CI, 6.97-13.41) for dermatology, and 5.85 (95% CI, 4.24-8.27) for pigmented lesion specialists.
LIMITATIONS
There is heterogeneity in data reporting and the possibility of missing studies. In addition, the incidence of melanoma varies among clinical settings, which could affect NNT calculations.
CONCLUSION
Pigmented lesion specialists have the lowest NNT, followed by dermatologists, suggesting that involving specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of pigmented skin lesions can likely improve patient outcomes.
Topics: Academic Medical Centers; Biopsy, Needle; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; Dermatologists; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Incidence; Male; Melanoma; Mohs Surgery; Skin Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; United States
PubMed: 31931085
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.12.063 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Dec 2018Early accurate detection of all skin cancer types is essential to guide appropriate management, reduce morbidity and improve survival. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Early accurate detection of all skin cancer types is essential to guide appropriate management, reduce morbidity and improve survival. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is usually localised to the skin but has potential to infiltrate and damage surrounding tissue, while cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and melanoma have a much higher potential to metastasise and ultimately lead to death. Exfoliative cytology is a non-invasive test that uses the Tzanck smear technique to identify disease by examining the structure of cells obtained from scraped samples. This simple procedure is a less invasive diagnostic test than a skin biopsy, and for BCC it has the potential to provide an immediate diagnosis that avoids an additional clinic visit to receive skin biopsy results. This may benefit patients scheduled for either Mohs micrographic surgery or non-surgical treatments such as radiotherapy. A cytology scrape can never give the same information as a skin biopsy, however, so it is important to better understand in which skin cancer situations it may be helpful.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of exfoliative cytology for detecting basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in adults, and to compare its accuracy with that of standard diagnostic practice (visual inspection with or without dermoscopy). Secondary objectives were: to determine the diagnostic accuracy of exfoliative cytology for detecting cSCC, invasive melanoma and atypical intraepidermal melanocytic variants, and any other skin cancer; and for each of these secondary conditions to compare the accuracy of exfoliative cytology with visual inspection with or without dermoscopy in direct test comparisons; and to determine the effect of observer experience.
SEARCH METHODS
We undertook a comprehensive search of the following databases from inception up to August 2016: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; MEDLINE; Embase; CINAHL; CPCI; Zetoc; Science Citation Index; US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register; NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio Database; and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We also studied the reference lists of published systematic review articles.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Studies evaluating exfoliative cytology in adults with lesions suspicious for BCC, cSCC or melanoma, compared with a reference standard of histological confirmation.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted all data using a standardised data extraction and quality assessment form (based on QUADAS-2). Where possible we estimated summary sensitivities and specificities using the bivariate hierarchical model.
MAIN RESULTS
We synthesised the results of nine studies contributing a total of 1655 lesions to our analysis, including 1120 BCCs (14 datasets), 41 cSCCs (amongst 401 lesions in 2 datasets), and 10 melanomas (amongst 200 lesions in 1 dataset). Three of these datasets (one each for BCC, melanoma and any malignant condition) were derived from one study that also performed a direct comparison with dermoscopy. Studies were of moderate to poor quality, providing inadequate descriptions of participant selection, thresholds used to make cytological and histological diagnoses, and blinding. Reporting of participants' prior referral pathways was particularly poor, as were descriptions of the cytodiagnostic criteria used to make diagnoses. No studies evaluated the use of exfoliative cytology as a primary diagnostic test for detecting BCC or other skin cancers in lesions suspicious for skin cancer. Pooled data from seven studies using standard cytomorphological criteria (but various stain methods) to detect BCC in participants with a high clinical suspicion of BCC estimated the sensitivity and specificity of exfoliative cytology as 97.5% (95% CI 94.5% to 98.9%) and 90.1% (95% CI 81.1% to 95.1%). respectively. When applied to a hypothetical population of 1000 clinically suspected BCC lesions with a median observed BCC prevalence of 86%, exfoliative cytology would miss 21 BCCs and would lead to 14 false positive diagnoses of BCC. No false positive cases were histologically confirmed to be melanoma. Insufficient data are available to make summary statements regarding the accuracy of exfoliative cytology to detect melanoma or cSCC, or its accuracy compared to dermoscopy.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The utility of exfoliative cytology for the primary diagnosis of skin cancer is unknown, as all included studies focused on the use of this technique for confirming strongly suspected clinical diagnoses. For the confirmation of BCC in lesions with a high clinical suspicion, there is evidence of high sensitivity and specificity. Since decisions to treat low-risk BCCs are unlikely in practice to require diagnostic confirmation given that clinical suspicion is already high, exfoliative cytology might be most useful for cases of BCC where the treatments being contemplated require a tissue diagnosis (e.g. radiotherapy). The small number of included studies, poor reporting and varying methodological quality prevent us from drawing strong conclusions to guide clinical practice. Despite insufficient data on the use of cytology for cSCC or melanoma, it is unlikely that cytology would be useful in these scenarios since preservation of the architecture of the whole lesion that would be available from a biopsy provides crucial diagnostic information. Given the paucity of good quality data, appropriately designed prospective comparative studies may be required to evaluate both the diagnostic value of exfoliative cytology by comparison to dermoscopy, and its confirmatory value in adequately reported populations with a high probability of BCC scheduled for further treatment requiring a tissue diagnosis.
Topics: Adult; Azure Stains; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Coloring Agents; Cytodiagnosis; Dermoscopy; Humans; Melanoma; Papanicolaou Test; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin Neoplasms; Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
PubMed: 30521689
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013187