Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Tumor’s Characteristics and Histologic Subtype as a Predictor for Subclinical Spread and Number of Mohs Stages required to Achieve Tumor-Free Margins
Vol. 38 No. 1 (2019), Full-Length Articles
Vol. 38 No. 1 (2019)

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Tumor’s Characteristics and Histologic Subtype as a Predictor for Subclinical Spread and Number of Mohs Stages required to Achieve Tumor-Free Margins

Full-Length Articles
Published 2019-03-21
Aileen Santos-Arroyo
Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Osward Y. Carrasquillo
Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Rocio Cardona
Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Jorge L. Sánchez
Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Sheila Valentín-Nogueras
Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
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Keywords

Mohs stages
tumor subtype
skin cancer

How to Cite

Santos-Arroyo, A., Carrasquillo, O. Y., Cardona, R., Sánchez, J. L., & Valentín-Nogueras, S. (2019). Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Tumor’s Characteristics and Histologic Subtype as a Predictor for Subclinical Spread and Number of Mohs Stages required to Achieve Tumor-Free Margins. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, 38(1), 40–45. Retrieved from https://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/view/1864
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Abstract

Objective: To describe the behavior of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) based on tumor’s characteristics. Methods: A total of 219 of NMSC were analyzed via a retrospective medical chart review. The data obtained from each record included but was not limited to: number of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) stages required for tumor clearance, defect size, repair type and size according to the neoplasm’s histopathologic subtype. Results: The mean number of stages required to clear morpheaphorm/infiltrative and micronodular basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) (n= 34) was 2.03, while the nodular and superficial BCCs (n= 125) needed a mean of 1.56 stages (p value= .034). Of the tumors located on a high-risk zone, 59.6% required two or more stages to be cleared while 67.7% of the lesions on a non-high risk zone were cleared with one stage (p value = 0.001). Recurrent tumors required a mean 2.22 MMS stages to be cleared, whereas primary tumors required a mean 1.61 stages (p value= .006). Conclusion: Subclinical spread was seen in morpheaform/infiltrative and micronodular BCC histologic subtypes, recurrent tumors, and tumors in high-risk locations. These could help predict aggressive tumor behavior and optimize surgical planning.
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