BACKGROUND: Recent studies demonstrate comparable outcomes of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) versus local excision (LE) for melanoma in situ. These studies are limited by their focus on the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to compare 5-year overall and melanoma-specific mortality among patients with melanoma in situ of the trunk or extremities who undergo MMS versus LE. The secondary objective was to compare 5-year local recurrence among the same cohort of patients who undergo MMS versus LE.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000-2015) was queried to identify patients who underwent MMS versus LE for melanoma in situ of the trunk, upper extremities, or lower extremities. Outcomes were 5-year recurrence, melanoma-specific mortality, and overall mortality. Multivariable regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Thirty three thousand nine hundred eighty-three patients underwent surgical treatment (MMS 3%; LE 97%). In adjusted analyses, there was no difference in local recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-1.78), melanoma-specific mortality (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.12-6.47), nor overall mortality (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.82-1.48) between MMS versus LE.

CONCLUSION: There is no difference of 5-year local recurrence, melanoma-specific mortality, nor overall mortality associated with MMS versus LE for melanoma in situ of the trunk or extremities.