Journal article
Assessment of Functionality in Elderly Patients When Determining Appropriate Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
Dermatologic surgery, v 46(3), pp 319-326
Mar 2020
PMID: 31356441
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the elderly population is a source of significant debate. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a highly effective treatment option yet not every patient with a cutaneous malignancy that meets appropriate use criteria (AUC) should be treated with surgery.
The purpose of this study was to use the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale to categorize the functional status of patients aged 75 years and older who required treatment of NMSC. The authors wanted to see whether functionality played a role on the treatment selection.
Patients aged 75 years and older presenting for biopsy of a suspected NMSC that met AUC for MMS were included in the study. Trained medical assistants used the KPS scale to assess patient functionality. Treatment modality was recorded once the biopsy confirmed the NMSC.
A cohort of 203 subjects met inclusion criteria for the study. There was a statistically significant difference in utilization of surgical treatments between high and low functionality patients (p = .03).
Dermatologists consider patient functionality when selecting a treatment for NMSC and use less invasive modalities for patients with poor functional status, even when the tumor meets AUC.
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Details
- Title
- Assessment of Functionality in Elderly Patients When Determining Appropriate Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers
- Creators
- Michael A Renzi, Jr - Cooper Medical School of Rowan UniversityMatthew Belcher - Augusta UniversityBruce Brod - University of PennsylvaniaPreston W Chadwick - Salem HospitalAshley Decker - Cooper Medical School of Rowan UniversityCynthia A Dolan - Georgia UrologyErum N Ilyas - Global VetPathologyAnna M Magee - Charlottesville Medical ResearchElizabeth I McBurney - SanovaThomas D Regan - Pennsylvania Centre for Dermatology, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaRoy S Seidenberg - Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New YorkAlly-Khan Somani - Indiana University – Purdue University IndianapolisLacy L Sommer - Cooper Medical School of Rowan UniversityDivya Srivastava - The University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterNaomi Lawrence - Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Publication Details
- Dermatologic surgery, v 46(3), pp 319-326
- Publisher
- Lippincott
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000524295300004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85081941348
- Other Identifier
- 991022018779304721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Dermatology
- Surgery