Objective: To evaluate the outcome of the square procedure, a multidisciplinary, staged excision technique using standard formalin-fixed, vertically oriented sections for periocular cutaneous melanoma.
Design: Observational, retrospective, case series.
Participants: Forty patients with periocular cutaneous melanoma treated with the square procedure.
Methods: Demographic features, tumor data, and recurrence rate were reviewed retrospectively for 40 patients with periocular cutaneous melanoma treated with the square procedure.
Main outcome measure: Local recurrence rate.
Results: Of 40 patients, 26 (65%) had lentigo maligna melanoma in situ (MIS), 12 (30%) had lentigo maligna melanoma, and 2 (5%) had superficial spreading melanoma. Tumor-free margins were reached within a mean margin of 13 mm for patients with MIS and of 16 mm for patients with invasive melanoma. There was no statistical difference for the margin width in patients with MIS and invasive melanoma. The lesion size and margin width were significantly correlated. Recurrence was observed in 1 (2.5%) patient at 8 months after the square procedure, and a Kaplan-Meier survival curve estimated a local recurrence rate of 2.5% at 8 years.
Conclusions: The square procedure is an effective procedure for management of periocular lentigo maligna melanoma in situ and lentigo maligna melanoma with a low local recurrence rate of 2.5% at 8 years.
Financial disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.