Patient-Reported Nasal Function and Appearance After Interpolation Flap Repair Following Skin Cancer Resection: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: Among patients undergoing two-stage interpolated flap repair of nasal defects, nasal function, and appearance before surgery and at 16 weeks after flap takedown were compared using the Nasal Appearance and Function Evaluation Questionnaire (NAFEQ). Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study. Methods: Adult patients with a nasal skin cancer anticipated to require two-stage interpolation flap repair completed the NAFEQ before surgery, at 1 week after flap placement, 4 weeks after flap takedown, and 16 weeks after flap takedown. Results: One hundred sixty-nine patients were enrolled, with 138 patients completing both presurgical and 16-week post-takedown NAFEQs. Overall NAFEQ score increased by 1.09 points (1.91% improvement, confidence interval [95% CI -0.34 to 2.53]). NAFEQ functional subscale increased by 0.72 points (2.58% increase; 95% CI [0.10-1.35]) and appearance subscale increased by 0.37 points (1.28% improvement, 95% CI [-0.65 to 1.39]). Conclusion: At 16 weeks after flap takedown, patients' perceptions of their nasal function and appearance are similar to or slightly improved when compared with their presurgical assessments.

Patient Quality of Life After Interpolated Flap Repair of Nasal Mohs Surgery Defects: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Importance

Single-center studies have shown that patients report better skin cancer-specific quality of life (QOL) after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), but it is unclear whether this improved QOL applies to patients after MMS and complex reconstruction in cosmetically sensitive areas.

Objective

To evaluate patient QOL after MMS and interpolation flap reconstruction for patients with nasal skin cancers.

Design, Setting and Participants

This multicenter prospective survey study used the Skin Cancer Index (SCI), a validated, 15-question QOL questionnaire administered at 4 time points: before MMS, 1 week after flap placement, 4 weeks after flap takedown, and 16 weeks after flap takedown. Patients age 18 years or older with a nasal skin cancer who presented for MMS and were anticipated to undergo 2-stage interpolated flap repair by a Mohs surgeon were recruited from August 9, 2018, to February 2, 2020, at 8 outpatient MMS locations across the United States, including both academic centers and private practices.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Mean difference in overall SCI score before MMS vs 16 weeks after flap takedown.

Results

A total of 169 patients (92 men [54.4%]; mean [SD] age, 67.7 [11.4] years) were enrolled, with 147 patients (75 men [51.0%]; mean [SD] age, 67.8 [11.7] years) completing SCI surveys both before MMS and 16 weeks after flap takedown. Total SCI scores improved significantly 16 weeks after flap takedown compared with pre-MMS scores, increasing by a mean of 13% (increase of 7.11 points; 95% CI, 5.48-8.76; P < .001). All 3 SCI subscale scores (emotion, appearance, and social) improved significantly (emotion subscale, increase of 3.27 points; 95% CI, 2.35-4.18; P < .001; appearance subscale, increase of 1.65 points; 95% CI, 1.12-2.18; P < .001; and social subscale, increase of 2.10 points; 95% CI, 1.55-2.84; P < .001) 16 weeks after flap takedown compared with pre-MMS.

Conclusions and Relevance

Removal of a nasal skin cancer and repair of the resulting defect can be distressing for patients. However, this cohort study suggests that physicians referring patients for MMS can be reassured that their patient's QOL will improve on average after surgery, even when a complex reconstruction is required.

Preferences for Prophylactic Oral Antibiotic Use in Dermatologic Surgery: A Multicenter Discrete Choice Experiment

BACKGROUND

Antibiotics are often prescribed after dermatologic surgery for infection prophylaxis, but patient preferences about prophylactic antibiotics are not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

To understand patient preferences about taking antibiotics to prevent surgical site infection (SSI) relative to antibiotic efficacy and antibiotic-associated adverse drug reactions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multi-center, prospective discrete choice experiment (DCE).

RESULTS

Three hundred thirty-eight respondents completed the survey and DCE. 54.8% of respondents preferred to take an antibiotic if it reduced the SSI rate from 5% to 2.5% and if the risk of adverse drug reactions was low (1% risk gastrointestinal upset, 0.5% risk itchy skin rash, 0.01% risk emergency department visit). Even if an antibiotic could eliminate SSI risk (0% risk SSI) and had a low adverse drug reaction profile, 26.7% of respondents prefer not to take prophylactic oral antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

Risk-benefit thresholds for taking antibiotics to prevent SSI vary widely. Clinical trials are needed to better characterize the effectiveness and risks of oral antibiotic SSI prophylaxis to guide decision-making. Future studies should also evaluate whether shared decision-making can improve the patient experience.

Association of Age, Sex, Race, and Geographic Region With Variation of the Ratio of Basal Cell to Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas in the United States

Importance

Defining which populations are affected by basal cell carcinoma (BCC) vs cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) may inform targeted public health strategies. Incidence of BCC and cSCC is not reported to national cancer registries, but claims data for the treatment of BCC and cSCC provide insights into the epidemiology of keratinocyte carcinoma.

Objective

To define differences in the ratio of BCC to cSCC in adults (age, ≥18 years) in a large database of patients with commercial insurance and Medicare Advantage coverage.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional analysis used deidentified data derived from the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart to perform a retrospective evaluation of a large commercially insured cohort based on treatment claims from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016. Patients with a diagnosed and treated BCC or cSCC as determined by codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, and Current Procedural Terminology were included. Data were analyzed from November 30, 2019, to March 20, 2020.

Exposure

Diagnosis and treatment of BCC or cSCC.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The ratio of BCC to cSCC based on age, sex, race, and geographic location. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess how demographics were associated with the odds of a treated keratinocyte carcinoma being a BCC.

Results

Among the 985 317 claims for patients included in the analysis (61.59% for men; mean [SD] age, 69.82 [12.58] years), BCCs were 1.69 (95% CI, 1.6899-1.6901) times more likely than cSCCs to be treated in the United States from 2012 to 2016. Basal cell carcinomas were significantly more prevalent than cSCCs in younger patients (18-39 years, 9.63 [95% CI, 9.6088-9.6574] BCCs per cSCC; 40-64 years, 2.92 [95% CI, 2.9171-2.9187] BCCs per cSCC; and ≥65 years, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.3289-1.3291] BCCs per cSCC; P < .001). Basal cell carcinomas were significantly more prevalent than cSCCs in women vs men, except in adults 65 years or older (odds ratios [ORs], 0.98 [95% CI, 0.97-0.99] vs 1.67 [95% CI, 1.47-1.88] for those aged 18-39 and 1.15 [95% CI, 1.12-1.19] for those aged 40-64 years; P < .001). The difference in BCC:cSCC ratios between men and women diminished with increasing age (OR, 1.67 for 18-39 years, 1.15 for 40-64 years, and 0.98 for 65 years or older). Basal cell carcinoma was more prevalent than cSCC in all races, including Black patients (BCC:SCC ratios, 1.60 for Asian patients, 1.45 for Black patients, 2.00 for Hispanic patients, and 1.69 for White patients of all ages). The BCC:cSCC ratio varied based on geography, with the highest ratio in the West North Central census division (2.12) and the lowest ratio in the South Atlantic census division (1.35).

Conclusions and Relevance

In the absence of a national registry, claims data can improve our understanding of the epidemiology of keratinocyte carcinomas. In this cross-sectional study, basal cell carcinomas were more common than cSCCs for all demographics, including in Black patients. In populations younger than 40 years, BCCs were 12.6 times more likely for women and 7.2 times more likely for men. These demographic groups may benefit from public health education focused on the presentation and management of BCCs.

Mohs micrographic surgery for male genital tumors: Local recurrence rates and patient-reported outcomes

BACKGROUND

Local recurrence rates (LRRs) after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for male genital cancers have been reported in only a few small case series, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have not been studied.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the LRR and PROs after MMS for male genital skin cancers.

METHODS

Retrospective review of all male genital skin cancers removed with MMS between 2008 and 2019 at an academic center. LRR was determined by chart review and phone calls. PROs were assessed by survey.

RESULTS

A total of 119 skin cancers in 108 patients were removed with MMS. Tumors were located on the penis (90/119) and scrotum (29/119). Diagnoses included squamous cell carcinoma in situ (n = 71), invasive squamous cell carcinoma (n = 32), extramammary Paget disease (n = 13), melanoma (n = 2), and basal cell carcinoma (n = 1). The LRR was 0.84% (1/119), with a mean follow-up time of 3.25 years (median, 2.36 years). The majority of survey respondents reported no changes in urinary (66%) or sexual functioning (57.5%) after surgery.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective single-center experience; short follow-up time; low survey response rate; no baseline functional data.

CONCLUSION

MMS for male genital skin cancer has a low LRR and high patient-reported satisfaction with urinary and sexual function.