Head and Neck Skin Cancer: When Mohs Is Not Enough

Abstract

Program Description: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and is increasing in incidence. While most skin cancer patients have an excellent prognosis following outpatient treatment with Mohs surgery, a subset demonstrate aggressive features with metastatsis, recurrence, and decreased survival. Failure to identify these high-risk patients can lead to undertreatment and poor outcomes. This evidence-based miniseminar will discuss the role and extent of surgery in the management of local disease, detection and treatment of metastases, and the role of adjuvant therapy in the management of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Educational Objectives: 1) Describe the extent of surgery required in the management of head and neck skin cancer. 2) Interpret the role of sentinel node biopsy and indications for neck dissection in the management of head and neck skin cancer. 3) Recognize the indications for adjuvant treatment in the management of advanced head and neck skin cancers.