title: Favourable results of Mohs micrographic surgery for basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm with an annual incidence approaching 200/100,000 person-years. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is widely used in North America and in Europe for treatment of BCC. This technique ensures radical tumour removal, sparing of the surrounding healthy skin, and it also offers higher cure rates than standard tumour excision with a predefined margin of healthy skin. The superiority of MMS relies on the fact that the entire (100%) margin of the excised tissue is examined microscopically for residual tumour in contrast to the traditional histopathological examination, in which 2% of the margin is examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Denmark, MMS was first introduced by us in 2012. In the present study, we retrospectively included all patients who underwent MMS from May 2012 to June 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 231 patients with 263 BCC were included. The mean age was 66.1 years. The most common localisations were the forehead (31.3%), the nose (31.0%) and the cheek (14.7%). Primary BCC comprised 54.0%; the remaining cases were relapses, most frequently after curettage (36.9%), radiotherapy (18.9%) and photodynamic therapy (11.7%). MMS leads to 40% smaller skin defects than standard excisions with 4 or 6 mm margins. Closure of skin defects was achieved by side-to-side closure in 49% and by local flaps in 40%. There were no relapses during the observation time. The safety, cosmetic and functional outcome were excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that MMS be included in the Danish BCC treatment guidelines, especially for high-risk BCC in the face, in line with standard practice in Europe and the United States.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  none.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors.affiliation: r.gniadecki@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gniadecki
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glud
authors.forename: Kia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biskup
authors.forename: Silje Haukali
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Omland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D003718:Denmark; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques; D055815:Young Adult