Based on Mohs micrographic surgery defect sizes, tumor sizes for nonmelanoma skin cancers are larger among Hispanic/Latino patients than among White patients, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Laura Y. Blumenthal, M.D., from the Center for Dermatology Care in Thousand Oaks, California, and colleagues used data for the size of Mohs micrographic surgery defects (3,486 surgeries) to examine disparities in nonmelanoma skin cancer among Hispanic/Latino patients.

The researchers found that Mohs micrographic surgery defect sizes were 17 percent larger among Hispanic/Latino patients versus non-Hispanic White patients. When comparing defect sizes of squamous cell carcinomas to those of basal cell carcinomas, defects were 80 percent larger among Hispanic/Latino patients versus 25 percent larger among non-Hispanic White patients. Compared with patients with Medicare, patients with health maintenance organization and Medicaid/health maintenance organization had 22 percent and 52 percent larger defect sizes, respectively, while patients with preferred provider organization had 10 percent smaller defect sizes.

"It is imperative to use media, schools, and other outreach efforts to educate primary care providers and patients regarding the risk of skin cancer regardless of race or ethnicity and to promote sun-protective behavior," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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