Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer in Patients Older Than Age 85 Years Presenting for Mohs Surgery: A Prospective, Multicenter Cohort Study.

Importance: It has been suggested that Mohs surgery for skin cancer among individuals with limited life expectancy may be associated with needless risk and discomfort, along with increased health care costs. Objective: To investigate patient- and tumor-specific indications considered by clinicians for treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer in older individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted using data from US private practice and academic centers. Included patients were those older than age 85 years presenting for skin cancer surgery and referred for Mohs surgery, with reference groups of those younger than age 85 years receiving Mohs surgery and those older than age 85 years not receiving Mohs surgery. Data were analyzed from November 2018 through January 2019. Exposures: Mohs surgery for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Main Outcomes and Measures: Reason for treatment selection. Results: Among 1181 patients older than age 85 years referred for Mohs surgery (724 [61.9%] men among 1169 patients with sex data; 681 individuals aged >85 to 88 years [57.9%] among 1176 patients with age data) treated at 22 sites, 1078 patients (91.3%) were treated by Mohs surgery, and 103 patients (8.7%) received alternate treatment. Patients receiving Mohs surgery were more likely to have tumors on the face (738 patients [68.5%] vs 26 patients [25.2%]; P < .001) and nearly 4-fold more likely to have high functional status (614 patients [57.0%] vs 16 patients [15.5%]; P < .001). Of 15 distinct reasons provided by surgeons for opting to proceed with Mohs surgery, the most common were patient desire for treatment with a high cure rate (712 patients [66.0%]), good or excellent patient functional status for age (614 patients [57.0%]), and high risk associated with the tumor based on histology (433 patients [40.2%]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that older patients who received Mohs surgery often had high functional status, high-risk tumors, and tumors located on the face. These findings suggest that timely surgical treatment may be appropriate in older patients given that their tumors may be aggressive, painful, disfiguring, and anxiety provoking.

The Wave Flap: A Single-Stage, Modified Nasal Sidewall Rotation Flap for the Repair of Defects Involving the Mid-Alar Groove.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of defects straddling the alar groove presents the dual challenges of resurfacing the nasal sidewall and alar subunits while simultaneously recreating the alar groove. The wave flap (WF) is a modified, medially based, nasal sidewall rotation flap that uses locally recruited tissue from the nasal sidewall to facilitate color and texture match and permit camouflage of scars. OBJECTIVE: To detail a surgical repair for defects in the horizontally oriented middle third of the alar groove. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective case series describes a technique for repair of defects involving the alar groove. Using postoperative photographs, outcomes were assessed by blinded noninvestigator dermatologist raters using the Observer Scar Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Between February 2012 and June 2013, 10 patients were reconstructed using a WF design. Subjective assessment of scar vascularity, pigment, pliability, relief, and thickness by 3 independent reviewers yielded an overall cosmesis score of 11.1 (out of 50). No complications were noted. CONCLUSION: The WF provides an excellent reconstructive option for Mohs defects of the middle third of the alar groove by recruiting local tissue and permitting maximum scar camouflage. A well-designed and executed WF provides cosmetically exceptional results for defects of the alar groove.

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a patient with HIV: response to mycophenolate mofetil treatment.

A case of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a 38-year-old white male patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treated safely and effectively with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is reported. Treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are manifold, including topical, oral, intramuscular, intravenous, and subcutaneous therapies. These indicated treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis result in suppression of the immune system.

Success of omalizumab as monotherapy in adult atopic dermatitis: case report and discussion of the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor, FcepsilonRI.

We report a case of a 41-year-old black man who presented with chronic severe atopic dermatitis that only responded to oral corticosteroids. Failed treatments for this patient included topical corticosteroids, topical pimecrolimus, oral prednisone, oral antihistamines, azathioprine, and narrowband UV light therapy. Only oral corticosteroids provided significant relief. The patient had an immunoglobulin E (IgE) level of 7340 IU/mL (reference range, 0-100 IU/mL). He responded to a 12-week course of omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-LgE antibody currently indicated for patients 12 years and older with moderate to severe persistent asthma. Our patient experienced no adverse events throughout the course of treatment. We suggest that omalizumab may have a role in the treatment of isolated atopic dermatitis in the adult population.

Basal cell carcinoma of the nail unit.

We report a case of a 70-year-old white male with a basal cell carcinoma of the left thumb nail unit. Excision of the tumor via Mohs micrographic surgery was completed in 2 stages. The defect was repaired with a full thickness skin graft. Five months later the nail unit healed without complications. Prior to this report, 21 cases of basal cell carcinoma have been reported in the world literature. This case, as well as the prior reports, are reviewed with a focus on time to diagnosis, location, excisional technique, and method of repair.

Trichilemmal carcinoma: a rare cutaneous malignancy: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare cutaneous malignancy that usually occurs on the sun-exposed areas of older individuals. The lesion is usually solitary and may present as an exophytic or polypoid nodule that maybe hyperkeratotic with ulceration. OBJECTIVE: To present two cases of trichilemmal carcinoma, one occurring in a kidney transplantation patient. METHODS: Two case reports and a discussion of the rare carcinoma are presented. RESULTS: Both lesions were treated with Mohs micrographic surgery without sign of recurrence after several years. CONCLUSION: Trichilemmal carcinoma is a rare cutaneous malignancy that can be seen in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed hosts. Mohs micrographic surgery should be considered among the surgical options to avoid a wide surgical excision in these patients.