Management of periocular actinic keratosis:  a review of practice patterns among ophthalmic plastic surgeons.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the practice patterns of ophthalmic plastic surgeons regarding the management of actinic keratosis (AK) of the eyelid and periocular area.


METHODS
A brief electronic survey was distributed to members of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery requesting their demographic information and treatment approaches to AK.


RESULTS
One hundred and seven of 523 (20.5%) American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery members completed the survey. Most respondents treat AK < 2 mm from the eyelid margin by excision with permanent pathology (62.6%), followed by referral for Mohs excision (10.3%) and excision with frozen section control (9.3%). Similar responses were recorded for the treatment of AK > 2 mm from the eyelid margin, with most respondents treating by excision with permanent pathology (56.1%), followed by referral to dermatology for Mohs or non-Mohs treatment and topical chemotherapy (8.4% each).


CONCLUSIONS
Although most American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery members use excisional biopsy with permanent section pathology control of margins for the treatment of AK of the eyelid and periocular region, multiple alternative treatment approaches are also used.
Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts, USA.
Christine N Pham
CN
Lagler
Suzanne K
SK
Freitag
D003880:Dermatology / Q000592:standards; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States