Cost Effectiveness of Mohs Surgery

Although no Canadian cost-analysis studies have been conducted, there are a series of American studies published in the past 7 years. It is clear from all studies that Mohs surgery is more costly than purely ablative procedures or office based excisions.

It is also clear that these other forms of treatment carry 5-year recurrence rates of up to 10-12% for common skin cancers and up to 50% recurrence rates for rarer skin cancers. When the cost of additional procedures for removal of recurrent cancers or for re-excision (in cases where part of the cancer is missed in the first excision) is considered, MMS becomes much more cost effective than more traditional therapy.

The fact that MMS occurs in a single procedure and affords both the highest cure rate and the least destruction of uninvolved tissue, MMS is the treatment procedure that most effectively minimizes the physical and emotional trauma to the patient.