Review on the Role of Paraffin-embedded Margin-controlled Mohs Micrographic Surgery to Treat Skin Tumors

Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2024 Jun;115(6):555-571. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2024.02.017. Epub 2024 Feb 22.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Paraffin-embedded margin-controlled Mohs micrographic surgery (PMMS) includes various procedures such as slow Mohs or deferred Mohs technique, the Muffin and Tübingen techniques, and staged margin excision, or the spaghetti technique. PMMS is a variation of conventional Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) that allows histopathological examination with delayed margin control. PMMS requires minimum training and may be adopted by any hospital. The setback is that PMMS can require procedures across multiple days. PMMS lowers the rate of recurrence of basal cell carcinoma vs wide local excision in high-risk basal cell carcinoma, and improves the rates of recurrence and survival in lentigo maligna. PMMS can be very useful in high-risk squamous cell carcinoma treatment. Finally, it is a promising technique to treat infrequent skin neoplasms, such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, or extramammary Paget's disease, among others. In this article, we present a literature narrative review on PMMS, describing techniques and indications, and highlighting long-term outcomes.

Keywords: Control de márgenes; Margin control; Mohs deferred; Mohs diferido; Paraffin; Parafina; Slow Mohs; Spaghetti; Tübingen.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell* / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / pathology
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / pathology
  • Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / surgery
  • Margins of Excision*
  • Mohs Surgery*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
  • Paget Disease, Extramammary / pathology
  • Paget Disease, Extramammary / surgery
  • Paraffin Embedding*
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / surgery