A retrospective review of 488 patients aged 85 or older presenting for nonmelanoma skin cancer management was performed (1999–2014). Patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) had a mean age of death of 93.5 years (older than the national average of 76.1 and 81.2 years, males and females, respectively). Patients who underwent MMS survived a median of 20 months longer than those who elected not to have treatment for their skin cancer. The authors suggest that age and comorbidities alone are inadequate for making skin cancer treatment decisions in this population. Take home message, you still deserve Mohs, even if you are older!

Citation

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Comorbidity Scores Associated With Limited Life Expectancy in the Very Elderly With Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 Dec 26;[EPub Ahead of Print], EM Rogers, KL Connolly, KS Nehal, SW Dusza, AM Rossi, E Lee