The following is a summary of “Understanding melanoma in situ: Lentigo maligna surgical treatment terminology and guideline adherence, a targeted review,” published in the OCTOBER 2023 issue of Dermatology by Abrantes, et al.

Malignant melanoma in-situ, lentigo maligna (MMIS-LM), can be effectively treated using various surgical techniques. However, there needs to be more consistency in the existing literature regarding defining and describing these techniques. For a study, researchers sought to comprehensively define and describe the surgical techniques recommended by national guidelines for treating MMIS-LM. Clarifying and standardizing terminology is essential to ensure compliance with established guidelines.

A targeted literature review was conducted to achieve the objective, covering the period from 1990 to 2022. The review specifically focused on articles that discussed the surgical techniques recommended by national guidelines for MMIS-LM treatment. The techniques included wide local excision, Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), modified Mohs surgery, and staged excision/Slow-Mohs. The study also examined the related methods of tissue processing. National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Academy of Dermatology guidelines were reviewed to identify how these techniques should be applied to align with guideline recommendations.

The study provided a comprehensive description of the various surgical techniques used in the treatment of MMIS-LM and also explored the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these methods.

It was imperative to clearly understand the methodology and terminology associated with surgical procedures and tissue processing methods for the effective and compliant treatment of MMIS-LM. The clarity was essential for general dermatologists and surgeons to ensure optimal patient care.

Source: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(23)01084-8/fulltext