Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34123684›Full record

ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open2021

Serial Excision for Treatment of Non-melanoma Skin Cancer.

Paige K Dekker, Mark D Mishu, Richard Youn, Stephen B Baker

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 29% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Paige K DekkerDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Mark D MishuGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
Richard YounDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Stephen B BakerDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has become the predominant modality of excision for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Patients are referred for MMS under the assumption that it is the most effective procedure for definitive removal of the cancer while also allowing for maximal tissue preservation to achieve optimal cosmesis. The objective of this study was to investigate outcomes of serial excision (SE) as an alternative excision modality for NMSC.

methodsPatients undergoing SE for basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma by the senior author from 2009 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, and excision characteristics were recorded. The primary outcome was the number of excisions required to achieve negative margins.

resultsIn total, 129 patients with 205 NMSC lesions were retrospectively reviewed. An estimated 69 lesions (33.7%) were located in high risk areas, as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Negative margins were achieved in 191 (93.2%) lesions. In 88.3% of lesions (n = 181/205), negative margins were achieved in 2 or less excisions. 12 lesions (5.9%) were referred for MMS.

conclusionsOur results demonstrate that SE is an effective modality for definitive removal of NMSC. Recent research reveals that SE is much less expensive than MMS, and therefore places a smaller financial burden on the patient and the healthcare system as a whole. Relative to MMS, SE offers similar if not increased benefits for lower cost. Our findings highlight the need to critically reassess the select indications for MMS.

Identifiers

PMID34123684
PMCPMC8191689
OpenAlexW3169967331

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.