title: Micrographic surgery for subungual squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Eight patients were treated for subungual squamous cell carcinoma (4 female, 4 male; mean age 61 years). History of disease ranged from 9 months to 14 years (mean 4.7 years). Outpatient surgery under local anaesthetic was performed using Mohs micrographic surgery and formalin-fixed histological specimens. Tumour clearance was achieved after 2-6 procedures (median 3) over a mean period of 6.9 days. In all cases the wounds were allowed to heal by secondary intention and the distal phalanx was preserved. During a mean follow-up period of 3.1 years (range 0.5-6), no recurrence was seen and involved digits remained functional. Mohs micrographic surgery can provide a valuable alternative to amputation for subungual squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: de Berker
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Malcolm
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*