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Surgical treatments for Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) |
Patient Questionnaire
We are asking patients who have had a Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) to answer a few questions to help us design a trial which will investigate whether a special form of surgery (called Mohs micrographic surgery) might be more effective than standard surgery.
As you may be aware DFSP is a rare tumour. It has a potential to recur (come back) in the same place some years after it has been initially removed by surgery.
Standard surgery (also known as wide local excision) consists of removing as much of the cancer that is visible to the naked eye and taking an additional margin of skin (which would be considered normal), to ensure that the cancer is completely removed. The wound is closed. All removed tissue is then examined under the microscope at a later date and if further surgery is needed the patient returns for another operation.
Mohs micrographic surgery for DFSP involves removing the skin cancer in several stages and examining the tissue under a microscope leaving the wound open until the skin examined under the microscope is cancer-free (normal). This means that the procedure may take some days to complete. The benefits are that it examines all sides of the tumour so no remaining cancer cells are left and potentially this means in the long term less risk of the tumour returning and fewer surgical procedures.
As you may be aware DFSP is a rare tumour. It has a potential to recur (come back) in the same place some years after it has been initially removed by surgery.
Standard surgery (also known as wide local excision) consists of removing as much of the cancer that is visible to the naked eye and taking an additional margin of skin (which would be considered normal), to ensure that the cancer is completely removed. The wound is closed. All removed tissue is then examined under the microscope at a later date and if further surgery is needed the patient returns for another operation.
Mohs micrographic surgery for DFSP involves removing the skin cancer in several stages and examining the tissue under a microscope leaving the wound open until the skin examined under the microscope is cancer-free (normal). This means that the procedure may take some days to complete. The benefits are that it examines all sides of the tumour so no remaining cancer cells are left and potentially this means in the long term less risk of the tumour returning and fewer surgical procedures.