Study: Mohs Lowers Local Recurrence in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Key Takeaways

• Mohs micrographic surgery reduced local recurrence in primary high-stage cSCC vs. wide local excision.
• No differences in disease-specific or overall survival were observed between MMS and WLE.

New research published in JAMA Dermatology suggested that Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) was associated with a lower local recurrence rate for high-stage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

The retrospective cohort study included 216 patients with primary high-stage cSCC who underwent either MMS or WLE. The primary outcome measures included local recurrence rates, disease-specific survival, and overall survival to determine the comparative efficacy of these surgical options.

According to the analysis results, MMS was associated with a lower rate of local recurrence vs. WLE, highlighting its potential as an effective option for reducing the likelihood of tumor regrowth. However, no significant differences were found between the two procedures in terms of disease-specific survival or overall survival.

"The findings of this cohort study suggest that Mohs surgery was associated with improved outcomes in the treatment of primary high-stage cSCC compared with WLE," the authors concluded. "These findings further suggest that Mohs surgery or alternative methods of peripheral and deep en face margin assessment should be offered as first-line treatment."

Source: Wang D, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2025. Doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.6214