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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
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Published on: August 9, 2024
Mohs Micrographic Surgery as the Standard of Care for Nail Unit Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Darlene Gou1, Rajiv I Nijhawan, Divya Srivastava
1All authors are affiliated with the Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Background:
There is no established standard of care for treatment of nail unit squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Objective:
The aim of the study is to further characterize the clinical characteristics and diagnostic considerations of nail unit SCC and to examine the outcomes of patients with nail unit SCC treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS).
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective review was conducted of patients treated for nail unit SCC with MMS from January 1, 2006, to December 30, 2016. Demographic data were collected along with lesion characteristics, treatment characteristics, and follow-up results.
Results:
Forty-two cases of nail unit SCC were treated with MMS. Recurrences were observed in 3 patients (7.1%). Recurrent cases were treated with MMS. There were no cases of distant metastases, subsequent recurrence, or death. Two of 3 recurrences occurred in patients with histologic features of verruca vulgaris.
Conclusion:
Mohs micrographic surgery provides an excellent cure rate for the treatment of nail unit SCC. This technique offers the greatest ability to achieve histological clearance while maximizing tissue sparing, thereby reducing unnecessary amputations and patient morbidity.
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