Patient Preferences for Pain Control After Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Single-Center Discrete Choice Experiment.

Importance: Patient preferences for pain medications after Mohs micrographic surgery are important to understand and have not been fully studied. Objective: To evaluate patient preferences for pain management with only over-the-counter medications (OTCs) or OTCs plus opioids after Mohs micrographic surgery given varying levels of theoretical pain and opioid addiction risk. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective discrete choice experiment was conducted in a single academic medical center from August 2021 to April 2022 among patients undergoing Mohs surgery and their accompanying support persons (≥18 years). A prospective survey was administered to all participants using the Conjointly platform. Data were analyzed from May 2022 to February 2023. Main outcome and measure: The primary outcome was the pain level at which half of the respondents chose OTCs plus opioids equally to only OTCs for pain management. This pain threshold was determined for varying opioid addiction risk profiles (low, 0%; low-moderate, 2%; moderate-high, 6%; high, 12%) and measured via a discrete choice experiment and linear interpolation of associated parameters (pain levels and risk of addiction). Results: Of the 295 respondents (mean [SD] age, 64.6 [13.1] years; 174 [59%] were female; race and ethnicity were not considered) who completed the discrete choice experiment, 101 (34%) stated that they would never consider opioids for pain management regardless of the pain level experienced, and 147 (50%) expressed concern regarding possible opioid addiction. Across all scenarios, 224 respondents (76%) preferred only OTCs vs OTCs plus opioids after Mohs surgery for pain control. When the theoretical risk of addiction was low (0%), half of the respondents expressed a preference for OTCs plus opioids given pain levels of 6.5 on a 10-point scale (90% CI, 5.7-7.5). At higher opioid addiction risk profiles (2%, 6%, 12%), an equal preference for OTCs plus opioids and only OTCs was not achieved. In these scenarios, patients favored only OTCs despite experiencing high levels of pain. Conclusion and relevance: The findings of this prospective discrete choice experiment indicate that the perceived risk of opioid addiction affects the patient's choice of pain medications after Mohs surgery. It is important to engage patients undergoing Mohs surgery in shared decision-making discussions to determine the optimal pain control plan for each individual. These findings may encourage future research on the risks associated with long-term opioid use after Mohs surgery.

A Cost Comparison Between Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Conventional Excision for the Treatment of Head and Neck Melanomas In Situ and Thin Melanomas.

BACKGROUND: Variation in operative setting and surgical technique exists when treating specialty site melanomas. There are limited data comparing costs among surgical modalities. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the costs of head and neck melanoma surgery performed with Mohs micrographic surgery or conventional excision in the operating room or office-based settings. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients aged 18 years and older with surgically treated head and neck melanoma in 2 cohorts, an institutional cohort and an insurance claims cohort, for the years 2008-2019. The primary outcome was total cost of care for a surgical encounter, provided in the form of insurance reimbursement data. A generalized linear model was used to adjust for covariates affecting differences between treatment groups. RESULTS: In the institutional and insurance claims cohorts, average adjusted treatment cost was highest in the conventional excision-operating room treatment group, followed by the Mohs surgery and conventional excision-office setting ( p < .001). CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate the important economic role the office-based setting has for head and neck melanoma surgery. This study allows cutaneous oncologic surgeons to better understand the costs of care involved in head and neck melanoma treatment. Cost awareness is important for shared decision-making discussions with patients.

A retrospective case series of Mohs micrographic surgery and interdisciplinary management of female genital skin cancers: Local recurrence rates and patient-reported outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Conventional excision of female genital skin cancers has high rates of local recurrence and morbidity. Few publications describe local recurrence rates (LRRs) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for female genital skin cancers. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate LRRs, PROs, and interdisciplinary care after MMS for female genital skin cancers. METHODS: A retrospective case series was conducted of female genital skin cancers treated with MMS between 2006 and 2021 at an academic center. The primary outcome was local recurrence. Secondary outcomes were PROs and details of interdisciplinary care. RESULTS: Sixty skin cancers in 57 patients were treated with MMS. Common diagnoses included squamous cell cancer (n = 26), basal cell cancer (n = 12), and extramammary Paget disease (n = 11). Three local recurrences were detected with a mean follow-up of 61.1 months (median: 48.8 months). Thirty-one patients completed the PROs survey. Most patients were satisfied with MMS (71.0%, 22/31) and reported no urinary incontinence (93.5%, 29/31). Eight patients were sexually active at follow-up and 75.0% (6/8) experienced no sexual dysfunction. Most cases involved interdisciplinary collaboration 71.7% (43/60). LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the retrospective single-center design, heterogeneous cohort, and lack of preoperative function data. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating MMS into interdisciplinary teams may help achieve low LRRs and satisfactory function after genital skin cancer surgery.

Postoperative Complications After Interpolated Flap Repair for Mohs Defects of the Nose: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Dermatologists perform most interpolated flaps after skin cancer resection. Prospective, multicenter data on complications after interpolated flap repair in this setting are limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of physician-reported complications after interpolated flap repair of the nose. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective cohort study of 169 patients undergoing 2-stage interpolated flap repair of post-Mohs nasal defects. Frequency of bleeding, infection, dehiscence, necrosis, hospitalization, and death in the 30 days after flap placement and flap takedown are reported. RESULTS: Patients experienced 23 complications after flap placement (13.61%) and 6 complications after flap takedown (3.55%) that were related to the surgical procedure. The most frequent complication after flap placement was bleeding (9, 5.33%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.83%-9.82%). The most frequent complication after flap takedown was infection (5, 2.96%, 95% CI: 1.27%-6.74%). There was one hospitalization related to an adverse reaction to antibiotics. There were no deaths. CONCLUSION: Most complications after interpolated flap repair for post-Mohs defects of the nose are minor and are associated with flap placement. Interpolated flap repair for post-Mohs defects can be performed safely in the outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine carcinoma that typically presents as a rapidly enlarging violaceous papulonodule on sun-damaged skin in elderly patients. MCC has high rates of local recurrence, metastasis, and poor survival. Treatment of the primary tumor involves surgical excision with possible adjuvant radiation therapy, whereas regional nodal disease is treated with some combination of lymph node dissection and radiation therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as avelumab and pembrolizumab, are first-line agents for metastatic MCC. Monitoring for recurrence can be aided by Merkel cell polyomavirus oncoprotein antibody titers.

Cutaneous Oncology in the Immunosuppressed.

Patients with immunosuppressive conditions experience an increased frequency and severity of cutaneous malignancies. This article highlights management of keratinocyte carcinoma, melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and Kaposi sarcoma in the setting of lymphoproliferative disorders, acquired immunodeficiencies, and organ transplantation. Advances in the safety of organ transplant recipient immunosuppression, early identification of risk factors, and new targeted therapies are improving skin cancer outcomes in immunocompromised populations.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Facial Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumor with frequent metastases. They often appear in the face where cosmetic and functional outcome is critical. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a controlled intervention that optimizes negative margins without sacrificing tissue. OBJECTIVE: A comprehensive assessment of outcomes of MMS-treated facial MCC will help guide clinicians in surgical and medical management. METHODS & MATERIALS: Retrospective review identified facial MCC cases treated with MMS at a single institution from January 2005 to August 2020. Tumor characteristics and outcomes were recorded and descriptive and predictive analyses were performed. RESULTS: 34 cases were reviewed with a mean followup of 34.4 months. The most common sites were the forehead, cheek-jaw region, and nasal ala. 2 (5.9%) patients had local recurrence by a mean of 4.3 months. No documented variables were significantly associated with local recurrence. 8 (23.5%) patients had progression to metastasis by a mean of 9.4 months. Younger age at biopsy and surgery, male sex, and intraoperative detection of in-transit disease were significantly associated with progression to metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the tissue-sparing approach of MMS may be beneficial for MCC in cosmetically and functionally sensitive facial locations as it preserves tissue without compromising outcomes.

Patient-Reported Nasal Function and Appearance After Interpolation Flap Repair Following Skin Cancer Resection: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Among patients undergoing two-stage interpolated flap repair of nasal defects, nasal function, and appearance before surgery and at 16 weeks after flap takedown were compared using the Nasal Appearance and Function Evaluation Questionnaire (NAFEQ). Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study. Methods: Adult patients with a nasal skin cancer anticipated to require two-stage interpolation flap repair completed the NAFEQ before surgery, at 1 week after flap placement, 4 weeks after flap takedown, and 16 weeks after flap takedown. Results: One hundred sixty-nine patients were enrolled, with 138 patients completing both presurgical and 16-week post-takedown NAFEQs. Overall NAFEQ score increased by 1.09 points (1.91% improvement, confidence interval [95% CI -0.34 to 2.53]). NAFEQ functional subscale increased by 0.72 points (2.58% increase; 95% CI [0.10-1.35]) and appearance subscale increased by 0.37 points (1.28% improvement, 95% CI [-0.65 to 1.39]). Conclusion: At 16 weeks after flap takedown, patients' perceptions of their nasal function and appearance are similar to or slightly improved when compared with their presurgical assessments.