Management of periocular tumours with a Mohs surgery referral approach and their clinic-histological features.

Abstract

Antecedents and objectives: The purpose of our study was to showcase that MMS can be used efficiently even if it is not present (James Cook Hospital) in the management of periocular tumors through MMS via referral (Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital) and to describe the clinical and histological features of our patients.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study and 58 patients were included. We divided our patients in three groups; pre-COVID-19: patients from January 2019 to January 28th 2020, COVID-19: patients from January 29^th 2020 to July 2021 and late COVID-19: patients from August 2021 to 24th of July 2023.

Results: There were no differences among each group between; the clinic date and the MMS procedure (p = 0,06), the referral date and the MMS procedure (p = 0,054), the MMS date to reconstruction (p = 0.19), the time of the lesion (p = 0,054). The type of reconstruction was not influenced by the number of days; between the clinic date and reconstruction (p = 0,60), the clinic date and the MMS procedure (p = 0,60), and the referral date and the MMS procedure (p = 0,27). Around 16% of the patients were discharged during the first postoperative visit.

Conclusion: The joint management of periocular tumours between two hospitals showed to be efficient, even though during COVID-19 pandemic times.