Safety and Efficacy of Mohs Micrographic Surgery in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Although there is a large body of evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) in adults, little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of MMS in children and adolescents. METHODS: The authors searched all publications from 1993 to 2018 reporting on the use of MMS for the treatment of cutaneous neoplasms in patients aged 0 to 18 years. Patient demographics, surgical characteristics, outcomes, and complications were extracted from each report. RESULTS: Forty-one publications describing 58 patients were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 8.3 years, and the most commonly treated tumor was dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. There were no recurrences noted at a mean follow-up of 2 years. Two (3.4%) patients experienced complications after MMS. CONCLUSION: In this systematic review, the authors present aggregate data demonstrating high safety and efficacy of MMS in children and adolescents. Further research is necessary to develop guidelines for the use of MMS in children and adolescents.

Duke Scholars

Author Christopher Robert Stamey Dermatology