A Retrospective Analysis of Complication Rates in Mohs Micrographic Surgery Patients With Clinically Large Tumors and Tumors With Aggressive Subclinical Extension.

BACKGROUND: Clinically large cutaneous tumors and those with aggressive subclinical extension (ASE) often require wider margins and increased operative time during Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Our goal is to improve dermatologic surgeons' counseling information on complication risks for aggressive tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of postoperative complications in MMS patients, with a focus on differences between aggressive and non-aggressive tumors.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional chart review of 4151 MMS cases at the University of California, San Diego. A postoperative complication was defined as an adverse event directly related to MMS reported within 6 weeks of the procedure.

RESULTS: Clinically, large tumors had 50 times the odds of postoperative complication as compared to all other tumors (P less than 0.001). ASE was not found to be significantly associated with higher rates of postoperative complications when controlled for other factors.

CONCLUSION: Clinically, large tumors may be at higher risk for complications following MMS due to their increased size and need for repair with methods other than linear closures. Tumors with ASE were not found to be at higher risk for postoperative complications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2018;17(5):511-515.