Surgical Treatment for Extramammary Paget’s Disease

Abstract

Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a rare, slow growing non-melanoma skin cancer. Diagnosis is often significantly delayed, since clinical presentation may resemble common benign dermatoses. Treatment is characterized by high recurrence rates. This is in part due to ill-defined margins and by frequent development of satellites. Improvement of outcome needs a better preoperative planning with fluorescence diagnostics or scouting biopsies. Mohs micrographic surgery has some advantages for patients, such as reduced relapse rates and prolonged relapse-free survival. Improved identification of Paget cells in cryosections by immunostainings or alternatively the use of delayed Mohs with formalin-fixed material reduces the rate of false-negative results. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment.