Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Surgical Excision for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Treatment in the Medicare Population

Abstract
More than 3 million nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are diagnosed annually in the United States; 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.1,2 The NMSC treatment options include electrodessication and curettage, cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy, laser therapy, radiation, medical therapy, surgical excision, and Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).3 Surgical excision is effective for most primary basal cell carcinomas, but cure rates are higher with MMS in patients with recurrent, infiltrative, and high-risk anatomical site (face) cancers; MMS examines 100% of the surgical margin, which ensures definitive tumor removal and minimal loss of surrounding normal tissue.3,4