Nasal Skin Cancer Surgery Improves Patient Quality of Life

Patients with nasal skin cancer’s quality of life (QOL) improves after surgery, according to a recent study published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers aimed to evaluate the QOL of patients with nasal skin cancer after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and interpolation flap reconstruction in a multicenter prospective survey study using the Skin Cancer Index (SCI). The QOL questionnaire was given to participants before MMS, 1 week after flap placement, 4 weeks after flap takedown, and 16 weeks after flap takedown.

Total SCI scores increased by a mean of 13% (increase of 7.11 points; 95% CI, 5.48-8.76; P<.001) 16 weeks after flap takedown compared with pre-MMS scores. Emotion, appearance, and social scores also improved significantly.

“Removal of a nasal skin cancer and repair of the resulting defect can be distressing for patients,” concluded study authors. “However, this cohort study suggests that physicians referring patients for MMS can be reassured that their patient's QOL will improve on average after surgery, even when a complex reconstruction is required,” they added.

Reference

Lukowiak TM, Perz AM, Veerabagu SA, et al. Patient quality of life after interpolated flap repair of nasal Mohs surgery defects: a multicenter prospective cohort study. JAMA Dermatol. Published online August 25, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.3161