Improved overall survival of melanoma of the head and neck treated with Mohs micrographic surgery versus wide local excision

BACKGROUND: Optimal surgical management for melanoma of the head and neck remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE: Assess outcomes for melanomas of the head and neck treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) versus wide local excision (WLE) from the National Cancer Database.

METHODS: Head and neck melanoma data from the National Cancer Database from years 2004-2015 were analyzed.

RESULTS: In total, 50,397 cases of head and neck melanoma were reviewed; 3510 (7%) were treated with MMS and 46,887 (93%) with WLE. After controlling for potential confounding variables, patients treated with MMS were more likely than patients treated with WLE to survive after 5 years (hazard ratio [HR] 1.181, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.083-1.288; P < .001). Factors associated with a statistically significant survival disadvantage included male sex (HR 1.287, 95% CI 1.242-1.357; P = 0), tumor ulceration (HR 1.687, 95% CI 1.616-1.760; P = 0), and positive surgical margins (HR 1.395, 95% CI 1.306-1.490; P = 0). Patient survival was inversely proportional to tumor Breslow depth.

LIMITATIONS: Database study, limited number of MMS treated melanomas.

CONCLUSION: MMS is a valid treatment option for melanoma of the head and neck; National Cancer Database data suggests that MMS might confer a survival benefit over WLE.