Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Characteristics of Mohs practices in the United States: a recall survey of ACMS surgeons.

Campbell RM, Perlis CS, Malik MK, Dufresne RG

Georgia Skin Cancer and Aesthetic Dermatology, Athens, Georgia, USA. rcampbell@georgiaderm.com

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to better characterize the typical Mohs practice in the United States and to generate data that may be useful in future practice models. METHODS: A survey was mailed in 2004 to all 599 members of the American College of Mohs Surgery with United States addresses listed in the 2003 directory. RESULTS: Most respondents were part of a single speciality group, in a suburban or urban setting, performed between 501-1,000 cases per year, and had been in practice from 0-5 years. The vast majority of Mohs excisions are for basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers, followed by melanoma. Primary closure is the most common method of repair, followed by the use of flaps. Only 6% of cases were referred to other specialties for closure. Many surgeons augment their practice with non-Mohs cosmetic procedures. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of current Mohs surgery practices in the United States provides useful data for training programs, potential trainees, workforce issues, statistical modeling systems, and Mohs surgeons in the evaluation of their own practices.

Published 13 December 2007 in Dermatol Surg, 33(12): 1413-8; discussion 1418.
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