A case of pleomorphic dermal sarcoma with perineural invasion treated with Mohs micrographic surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy

Abstract

Pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) was recognized in the 2013 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of Soft Tissue and Bone as a clinical entity with adverse histopathologic features compared to the more superficial and less aggressive atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX). Although the gold standard treatment of AFX is Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), the optimal treatment for PDS has yet to be determined. We report the case of a 71-year-old man with a PDS with perineural invasion on the scalp, with no recurrence one-year post-treatment with MMS and adjuvant radiation therapy. In contrast to wide local excision, MMS offers complete margin control and tissue preservation, which helps minimize scarring and morbidity. The comparative efficacy of MMS versus wide local excision in the treatment of PDS with and without radiation remains unknown and warrants further investigation.