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Suephy C. Chen, MD, MS

Arch Dermatol. 2006;142:360-361.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Commentary on: Surgical excision vs Mohs’ micrographic surgery for basal-cell carcinoma of the face: randomised controlled trial.

Smeets NW, Krekels GW, Ostertag JU, et al
Lancet. 2004;364:1766-1772.

Question: In patients with large, aggressive, or recurrent facial basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), does surgical excision (SE) or Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) produce lower recurrence rates?

Setting: Patients treated in 2 hospitals in the Netherlands (University Hospital Maastricht or the Laurentius Hospital Roermond).

Design: The study used a randomized controlled study design and included patients with primary or recurrent BCC. Primary carcinoma was defined as either (1) untreated, larger than 1 cm in diameter, and in the H-zone of the face, or (2) aggressive histopathological subtype, such as morpheaform type, in the face. Recurrent carcinomas were limited to those that were histologically confirmed and on the face. Surgical excision was standardized by mandating 3-mm margins. If the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Departments of Health Policy and Management at the Rollins School of Public Health and Dermatology, Emory University, and Department of Health Services Research and Development and Division of Dermatology, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Ga