Based on Mohs micrographic surgery defect sizes, tumor sizes for nonmelanoma skin cancers are larger among Hispanic/Latino patients than among White patients, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Laura Y. Blumenthal, M.D., from the Center for Dermatology Care in Thousand Oaks, California, and colleagues used data for the size of Mohs micro graphic surgery defects (3,486 surgeries) to examine disparities in nonmelanoma skin cancer among Hispanic/Latino patients.
The researchers found that Mohs micro-graphic surgery defect sizes were 17 % larger among Hispanic/Latino patients versus non-Hispanic White patients. When comparing defect sizes of squamous cell carcinomas to those of basal cell carcinomas, defects were 80 % larger among Hispanic/Latino patients versus 25 % larger among non-Hispanic White patients. Compared with patients with Medicare, patients with health maintenance organization and Medicaid/health maintenance organization had 22 % and 52 % larger defect sizes, respectively, while patients with preferred provider organization had 10 % smaller defect sizes.
Article By: Healthday
Keywords: Mohs micrographic Surgery | Dermatology Care | Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
Dr. Raj Patel is a double board certified, fellowship-trained Moh’s micrographic surgeon with the highest level of training in skin surgery.