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Beal BT, Udkoff J, Aizman L, et al.
J Am Acad Dermatol (2023)

JC: October 2023

This study evaluated outcomes of invasive melanoma of the head and neck treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. The analysis assessed local recurrence, disease-free survival, and melanoma-specific survival in this challenging anatomical region where tissue conservation is critical. Results demonstrated favorable outcomes with Mohs for head and neck melanoma, supporting its use as an effective surgical approach in this anatomically complex location.

Take-Home Messages

  • Mohs surgery for head and neck melanoma demonstrates excellent local control with tissue-sparing benefits.
  • MART-1 immunostaining is essential for accurate margin assessment of melanoma during Mohs surgery.
  • Head and neck melanoma treated with Mohs should be combined with appropriate staging (SLNB) and surveillance protocols.

Topic

Melanoma

Melanoma margins, SLNB, staging, Mohs for melanoma in situ

Related MohsPedia Articles

Abstract

There are no randomized controlled trials to guide surgical margins for invasive head and neck (H&N) melanoma using conventional excision. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has shown improved local recurrence rates and survival for invasive H&N melanomas. Determine local recurrence (LR), nodal recurrence, and distant recurrence rates, and disease specific survival for invasive melanoma of the H&N treated with MMS. A retrospective multicenter study of 785 cases of invasive H&N me...

Literature review only. This summary is an editorial interpretation and may not reflect the complete findings of the original publication. Always refer to the full-text article for clinical decision-making.