Introduction:

histological subtype is a vital element in determining the risk of skin cancer. It may be determined by an incisional biopsy which represents just a percentage of the tumor mass, the main concern lying in its potential failure to detect an agressive subtype. Therefore, comparing the results of biopsies with the surgically obtained piece with Mohs micrographic surgery is significantly relevant.

Objective:

to compare histopathologic evaluation results of incisional biospy and debulking in skin cancer treated with Mohs micrographic surgery at the Dermatology Service of the Clinicas University Hospital, between November, 2013 and March, 2019.

Methodology:

retrospective, descriptive study analysing 202 non-melanoma carcinomas which were treated with Mohs micrographic surgery the Dermatology Service of the “Dr. Manuel Quintela” Clinicas Hospital, between November, 2013 and March, 2019.

Results:

the study only considered the cases where bulking identified the tumor. Biopsy matched debulking in 61.39% of cases. Debulking detected an agressive subtype that was not detected in the biopsy in 8.41% of the cases.

Conclusions:

the hystopathological study of debulking has proved to be relevant, and the incisional biopsy was found to be partially representative in determining the histopathological subtype of non-melanoma carcinomas, since approximately 1 out of 10 carcinomas could be underdiagnosed and not appropriately treated.

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