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Incomplete Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the cessation of MMS while the tumour margins remain positive. Zbar retrospectively described a series of 14 incomplete MMS without observing recurrences.1 Madani et al. reported two recurrences among eight cases of incomplete MMS, retrospectively too.2 Neither of these retrospective studies described the rates nor analysed risk factors for recurrence. Incidence rates of tumour recurrence were 12 cases (7.5-19.3) per 100 patient-years after incomplete MMS and 1.4 cases (1.2-1.6) per 100 patient-years after complete MMS (Table 2). [Extracted from the article]

Abstract: Background: The elderly population is increasing and more patients in this group undergo Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). The few publications investigating MMS in elderly people conclude that it is a safe procedure; however, these are single‐centre studies without a comparison group. Objective: To compare the characteristics of patients, tumours, MMS and 1‐year follow‐up in patients younger than 80 years, with patients older than 80 years at the time of surgery. Methods: Data was analysed from REGESMOHS, a prospective cohort study of patients treated with MMS. The participating centres were 19 Spanish hospitals where at least one MMS is performed per week. Data on characteristics of the patient, tumour and surgery were recorded. Follow‐up data were collected from two visits; the first within 1 month postsurgery and the second within the first year. Results: From July 2013 to October 2016, 2575 patients that underwent MMS were included in the registry. Of them, 1942 (75.4%) were aged <80 years and 633 (24.6%) were ≥80 years old. In the elderly, the tumour size was significantly higher with a higher proportion of squamous cell carcinoma. Regarding surgery, elderly more commonly had tumours with deeper invasion and required a higher number of Mohs surgery stages, leaving larger defects and requiring more time in the operating room. Despite this, the incidence of postoperative complications was the same in both groups (7%) and there were no significant differences in proportion of relapses in the first‐year follow‐up. Conclusion: The risk of short‐term complications and relapses were similar in elderly and younger groups. MMS is a safe procedure in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunosuppressed (IS) patients, particularly solid organ transplant recipients and those on immunosuppressive therapy, face a higher incidence and recurrence of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the preferred treatment for high-risk NMSC due to its high cure rate and margin examination capabilities. However, IS patients may experience more complications, such as surgical site infections, and a greater risk of recurrence, making their outcomes a subject of interest., Objectives: This study aimed to compare IS and immunocompetent (IC) patients undergoing MMS for NMSC in terms of baseline characteristics, intra- and post-surgical complications, and postoperative recurrence rates., Methods: The study utilized data from the REGESMOHS registry, a 7-year prospective cohort study in Spain. It included 5226 patients, categorizing them into IC (5069) and IS (157) groups. IS patients included solid organ transplant recipients, those on immunosuppressive treatments, individuals with haematological tumours and HIV-positive patients. Patient data, tumour characteristics, surgical details and outcomes were collected and analysed., Results: IS patients demonstrated a higher proportion of SCC, multiple synchronous tumours and tumours invading deeper structures. Complex closures, unfinished MMS and more surgical sections were observed in the IS group. Although intra-operative morbidity was higher among IS patients, this difference became non-significant when adjusted for other variables such as year of surgery, antiplatelet/anticoagulant treatment or type of closure. Importantly, IS patients had a substantially higher recurrence rate (IRR 2.79) compared to IC patients., Conclusions: This study suggests that IS patients may be at a higher risk of development of AE such as bleeding or tumour necrosis and are at a higher risk of tumour recurrence. Close follow-up and consideration of the specific characteristics of NMSC in IS patients are crucial. Further research with extended follow-up is needed to better understand the long-term outcomes for this patient group., (© 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Introduction: There is still a need to develop a simple algorithm to identify patients likely to need complex Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and optimize MMS schedule. The main objectives of this study are to identify factors associated with a complex MMS and develop a predictor model of the number of stages needed in surgery and the need for a complex closure., Materials and Methods: A nationwide prospective cohort study (REGESMOHS, the Spanish Mohs surgery registry) was conducted including all patients with a histological diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Factors related to three or more stages and a complex closure (that needing a flap and/or a graft) were explored and predictive models were constructed and validated to construct the REGESMOSH scale., Results: A total of 5226 patients that underwent MMS were included in the REGESMOHS registry, with 4402 (84%) having a histological diagnosis of BCC. A total of 3689 (88.9%) surgeries only needed one or two stages and 460 (11.1%) required three or more stages. A model to predict the need for three or more stages included tumour dimension, immunosuppression, recurrence, location in risk areas, histological aggressiveness and previous surgery. Regarding the closure type, 1616 (38.8%) surgeries were closed using a non-complex closure technique and 2552 (61.2%) needed a complex closure. A model to predict the need for a complex closure included histological aggressiveness, evolution time, patient age, maximum tumour dimension and location., Conclusion: We present a model to predict MMS needing ≥3 stages and a complex closure based on epidemiological and clinical data validated in a large population (with real practice variability) including different centres that could be easily implemented in clinical practice. This model could be used to optimize surgery schedule and properly inform patients about the surgery duration., (© 2023 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: Expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) is increased in psoriasis, leading to reduced levels of epidermal tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP-3), a highly potent inhibitor of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) sheddase TACE (TNFα-converting enzyme)/ADAM17. We described the profile of miR-21 and TIMP-3 in paradoxical psoriasiform reactions induced by anti-TNFα drugs and in a control group to elucidate the pathogenesis of this reactions., Methods: We performed an analytic, cross-sectional, prospective, experimental case-control study. We compared our findings with those of non-induced psoriasis., Results: We included 15 patients with a change of morphology (plaque to guttate psoriasis) and 10 patients with induced psoriasis (six palmoplantar pustulosis and four plaque psoriasis). Consecutive patients with different subtypes of non-induced, non-systemically treated psoriasis were included as a control group. We found that most cases with guttate psoriasis and with induced plaque psoriasis cases showed high expression of TIMP-3 expression and decreased or poorly increased levels of miR-21. The expression pattern was not homogeneous in the cases of induced palmoplantar pustulosis. These profiles differ from those of non-induced psoriasis., Conclusion: We conclude that various pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles are involved in the pathogenesis of paradoxical psoriasiform reactions and non-induced psoriasis., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Large prospective studies on the safety of Mohs micrographic (MMS) surgery are scarce, and most focus on a single type of surgical adverse event. Mid-term scar alterations and functional loss have not been described., Objectives: To describe the risk of MMS complications and the risk factors for them., Methods: A nationwide prospective cohort collected all adverse events on consecutive patients in 22 specialised centres. We used multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression to find out factors associated with adverse events., Results: 5,017 patients were included, with 14,421 patient-years of follow-up. 7.0% had some perioperative morbidity and 6.5% had mid-term and scar-related complications. The overall risk of complications was mainly associated with use of antiaggregant/anticoagulant and larger tumours, affecting deeper structures, not reaching a tumour-free border, and requiring complex repair. Age and outpatient setting were not linked to the incidence of adverse events. Risk factors for haemorrhage (0.9%) were therapy with antiaggregant/anticoagulants, tumour size, duration of surgery, and unfinished surgery. Wound necrosis (1.9%) and dehiscence (1.0%) were associated with larger defects and complex closures. Immunosuppression was only associated with an increased risk of necrosis. Surgeries reaching deeper structures, larger tumours and previous surgical treatments were associated with wound infection (0.9%). Aesthetic scar alterations (5.4%) were more common in younger patients, with larger tumours, in H-area, and in flap and complex closures. Risk factors for functional scar alterations (1.7%) were the need for general anaesthesia, larger tumours that had received previous surgery, and flaps or complex closures., Conclusions: MMS shows a low risk of complications. Most of the risk factors for complications were related to tumour size and depth, and the resulting need for complex surgery. Antiaggregant/anticoagulant intake was associated with a small increase in the risk of haemorrhage, that probably does not justify withdrawal. Age and outpatient setting were not linked to the risk of adverse events., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Randomized studies to assess the efficacy of Mohs micrographic surgery in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are limited by methodological and ethical issues and a lack of long follow-up periods. This study presents the "real-life" results of a nationwide 7-years cohort on basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. A prospective cohort was conducted in 22 Spanish centres (from July 2013 to February 2020) and a multivariate analysis, including characteristics of patients, tumours, surgeries and follow-up, was performed. A total of 4,402 patients followed up for 12,111 patient-years for basal cell carcinoma, and 371 patients with 915 patient-years of follow-up for squamous cell carcinoma were recruited. Risk factors for recurrence included age, non-primary tumours and more stages or unfinished surgeries for both tumours, and immunosuppression for squamous cell carcinoma. Incidence rates of recurrence were 1.3 per 100 person-years for basal cell carcinoma (95% confidence interval 1.1-1.5) and 4.5 for squamous cell carcinoma (95% confidence interval 3.3-6.1), being constant over time (0-5 years). In conclusion, follow-up strategies should be equally intense for at least the first 5 years, with special attention paid to squamous cell carcinoma (especially in immunosuppressed patients), elderly patients, non-primary tumours, and those procedures requiring more stages, or unfinished surgeries.

The body of literature supporting the use of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) in tumors outside the main indications (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, dermatofibrosacroma protuberans, lentigo maligna) is constantly growing, but it is still based on case reports, case series, or at best institutional case series that focus on a single malignancy. Our aim in this review was to assess use of MMS in an array of rare tumors outside the usual indications. A review was performed using the MEDLINE database and the search engine ClinicalKey®. We reviewed the use of MMS on atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX)/malignant fibrous histiocytoma, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, extramammary Paget's disease, Merkel cell carcinoma, pocrine/eccrine carcinoma/porocarcinoma, trichilemmal carcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, and angiosarcoma. Mohs micrographic surgery appears to be scarcely used in these tumors due to their low incidence. It is mainly performed for tumors in the H-zone of the face, and can be performed safely. The overall recurrence rate is lower compared with simple or wide local excision. MMS should be used in a more generalized fashion for these tumors.

Background: The two main tumors treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There are no studies analyzing whether MMS is different when treating these two types of tumors., Objective: We aim to compare the characteristics of the patients, the tumors, and MMS, and first-year follow-up of MMS in BCC and SCC., Methods: REGESMOHS is a prospective cohort study of patients treated with MMS. The participating centers are 19 Spanish hospitals where at least one MMS is performed per week. Data on characteristics of the patients, tumors, and surgery were recorded. The follow-up was done with two visits: the first visit within 1 month after surgery and the second one within the first year., Results: From July 2013 to April 2017, a total of 2,669 patients who underwent MMS were included in the registry. Of them, 2,448 (93%) were diagnosed with BCC, and 181 (7%) were diagnosed with SCC. Patients with SCC were older than those with BCC (median age 73 years vs. 68 years) and presented immunosuppression more frequently. The tumor size was significantly larger in the SCC group. Regarding surgery, deeper invasion was more frequent in SCC, resulting in larger defects. Despite this, SCC did not require more stages to get clear margins or more time in the operating room. Incomplete Mohs was more frequent in the SCC group (6%) than in the BCC group (2%). The incidence of perioperative complications was higher when treating SCC. There were more relapses in the first-year follow-up in the SCC group., Conclusion: There are significant differences when comparing MMS in BCC and SCC. Knowledge of these differences can help to prepare the patient and plan the surgery, optimizing results., (© 2018 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Objectives: The frequency and clinicopathologic characteristics of cutaneous lesions in sepsis are not well known. This study aimed to analyze cutaneous lesions in bacterial septic vasculopathy., Methods: The study population comprised 32 patients with bacterial sepsis, cutaneous lesions, and skin biopsy-proven septic vasculopathy. The clinical and histologic characteristics of the lesions were analyzed. Findings in non-immunosuppressed patients (NISPs) and immunosuppressed patients (ISPs) were compared., Results: Nine of 32 patients were immunosuppressed. The foci of sepsis were variable; in 17 patients, the focus was not identified. Although Neisseria meningitidis was the most common causal agent, several microorganisms were identified. Cutaneous manifestations were an early event in 90.6% of patients. The most common skin signs were purpuric lesions and petechiae. Overall mortality was 28.1%; 65.5% of patients survived without sequelae. Skin biopsies showed thrombi in 100% of cases. Other common findings were inflammatory infiltrate, blood extravasation, and epidermal involvement. Bacteria within the vascular wall were seen in 21.9% of cases and fibrinoid necrosis in 25%. A comparison of ISPs with NISPs disclosed that meningococcemia was more common in the latter group, and the presence of pustules was more common in the former. Histopathology testing revealed that fibrinoid necrosis and bacterial invasion of the vessel wall were more common in ISPs than in NISPs. Conclusions  Several microorganisms can cause septic vasculopathy. Clinical presentation is variable and does not depend on the microorganism or the pathogenic mechanism. Histopathologically, septic vasculopathy is a thrombo-occlusive vasculopathy with variable morphology. Cutaneous lesions are an early event and allow for rapid diagnosis., (© 2012 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Sepsis is one of the commonest causes of death around the world. The real frequency of cutaneous lesions in the setting of sepsis is unknown, but when they appear, they are usually one of the earliest signs of sepsis, thus allowing a rapid diagnosis of this potentially life-threatening condition. Four are the main physiopathologic mechanisms that can induce cutaneous lesions in sepsis: a) disseminated intravascular coagulation; b) direct vessel wall invasion by the microorganism; c) immune-mediated vasculitis, and d) septic embolism. We know that more than one of these mechanisms can appear in one single patient. In this review, we analyse these four mechanisms, their clinical presentation, and the histological findings that can be found in the cutaneous biopsy.