Various types of running sutures have been described for use in dermatologic surgery. The running vertical mattress suture is a time-saving technique that can be used alone or in combination with any running-suture technique. It is useful for wound eversion, providing hemostasis, and closing wounds under mild tension.

The incidence and mortality rates of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in the Medicare population are rapidly increasing. The current national guidelines are broad and the available staging systems for stratification are inadequate to accurately guide patient management.  A prognostic 40-gene expression profile (40-GEP) test has demonstrated both analytical and clinical validity for assessment of metastatic risk of high-risk cSCC patients independent of traditional clinicopathologic factors. Real-world data have shown that clinicians can identify appropriate patients for 40-GEP testing and use this personalized, molecular risk stratification tool to guide risk-aligned clinical planning and patient management. The data herein focuses on 59 Medicare-eligible patients (≥65 years of age) enrolled within a multicenter, prospective Clinical Utility and Health Outcomes Study (UTILISE) conducted to demonstrate patterns of 40-GEP test utilization, distribution of results across clinicopathologic variables, and impact on clinician recommendations for clinical management of high-risk cSCC patients.  Of patients under study, more than 80% of clinicians reported that the 40-GEP had a positive impact toward managing their high-risk SCC patient, 42% stated, a 40-GEP test result was the single most influential factor in determining management plans and 24% made changes to their treatment plan in after receiving the 40-GEP result­‑ a clinical actionability rate comparable to those of currently covered molecular tests for cancer patients. This analysis demonstrates the positive impact the 40-GEP is having on clinicians’ assessment of risk for their high-risk cSCC patients, which, in line with guidelines, is driving risk-aligned changes in treatment plans.

No abstract