Treatment of dermatofibroma sarcoma protuberans using modified Mohs micrographic surgery: no recurrences and smaller defects.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of modified Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for dermatofibroma sarcoma protuberans (DFSP) in a single institution by a single surgeon.

METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 25 patients with DFSP who were treated with modified MMS over the past 19 years at Scripps Clinic.

RESULTS: Of the 25 patients treated with modified MMS for DFSP, there were no identifiable recurrences. The mean follow-up time was 101 months. The defect sizes of DFSP lesions treated by modified MMS are smaller than if the lesions had been treated with the standard wide local excision (WLE) margins of 3 cm.

LIMITATIONS: This is a retrospective analysis using the data of one surgeon. Five of the 25 patients were not examined in our office. Not all patients had 5-year follow-up. There were no cases of the fibrosarcomatous variant.

CONCLUSION: Our data support the growing literature that modified MMS achieves excellent local control for DFSP with a possible benefit of smaller defects when compared with treatment with WLE. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.