A new manuscript co-published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) and Dermatologic Surgery outlines Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Mohs surgery -- the first AUC for any test or treatment within the field of dermatology.
The Mohs AUC represents a collaborative initiative by the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA), and the American Society for Mohs Surgery (ASMS).
"These Appropriate Use Criteria for Mohs surgery embody a unique effort to develop criteria to support the efficient use of medical resources while providing the highest quality care for the patients who will benefit the most," said board-certified dermatologist Suzanne M. Connolly, MD, FAAD, chair, Ad Hoc Task Force on the Development of Appropriate Use Criteria for Mohs Surgery. "The goal of the AUC is to provide evidence-based guidance on which types of skin cancer cases are most appropriate for this specialized surgery."
Statistics and facts:
About Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is a specialized skin cancer surgery in which a dermatologist who has completed additional training in Mohs surgery is able to remove skin cancer layer by layer until the entire tumor has been removed. The Mohs surgeon uses a microscope to examine each tissue layer to look for cancer cells until no further ones are found at any spot around any edges of the tumor. This technique allows the Mohs surgeon to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible, yet remove the entire cancer.
Background
The AUC process was based on the well-established, credible method developed by the RAND Corporation/UCLA more than 30 years ago. AUC have been shown to improve patient selection, clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life while reducing overall cost and resource utilization. The Mohs AUC are the first AUC developed for any test or treatment option within the scope of dermatology.
Study details
"As the incidence of skin cancer continues to climb and the practice of Mohs surgery advances in the future, Mohs surgeons, dermatologists, primary care providers and the health care community in general will need to understand how to best utilize Mohs surgery in the treatment of skin cancer -- and the AUC we initiated is an important first step in that direction," said Dr. Connolly.
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Materials provided by American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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