Systematic Review of Benefits and Practical Challenges for Application of Mohs Surgery for Oral Tumors

Summary: Oral cavity cancer (OCC) is a serious public health concern facing the United States, with an estimated 53,000 new cases annually.1 OCC often diagnosed at late stages due to tumors’ aggressive histology and the proximity of lymph nodes in the head and neck region to the oral cavity, thus leading to poor survival rates.2 The standard of care is surgical resection, with the possibility of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy if lymph nodes are involved.3,4 Due to difficulty of determining negative tumor margins, high rates of loco-regional recurrence, and significant impairments in qualities of life due to speech, swallowing, and airway management, alternative treatments have been proposed MMS is ideal for locally aggressive tumors, those with high recurrence rates, and those in areas where maximal tissue sparing is desired; suggesting MMS may be beneficial for the management of OCC