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Practice Gap
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a highly curative tissue-sparing skin cancer treatment1 and is a required component of dermatology residency training. According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, residents must have exposure “either through direct observation or as an assistant in Mohs micrographic surgery, and reconstruction of these defects, to include flaps and grafts.”2 The MMS technique allows for complete circumferential peripheral and deep margin assessment of excised specimens; however, the conformation of a 3-dimensional gross tissue specimen into a 2-dimensional specimen as represented on a microscope slide is challenging to conceptualize.
Behavioral science research has shown that analogies and metaphors help integrate topics into a memorable format and produce deeper comprehension.3 As such, analogies can aid in the visualization of these complex spatial concepts. The MMS tissue-processing technique has been compared to flattening a pie pan.4 More recently, a peanut butter cup analogy was described as a visualization tool for explaining the various steps of MMS to patients.5 Although these analogies may help elucidate certain aspects of the MMS technique, none adequately account for the multilayered anatomy of the skin.
The Technique
To address this need, we developed the cantaloupe analogy, which provides visual representation of the 3 basic skin layers: (1) the rind represents the epidermis; (2) the flesh represents the dermis, and (3) the seed cavity represents the subcutaneous layer (Figures 1 and 2).
In MMS tissue processing, the peripheral margin of the ovoid excised skin specimen is pressed down into the same plane as the deepest layer through a process called relaxation.4 The cantaloupe represents the dome shape of the relaxed tissue, which is then serially sectioned in horizontal layers from deep to superficial (Figure 2). The first slice represents the deepest subcutaneous layer and most peripheral dermal and epidermal layers of the specimen (Figure 3). Using the cantaloupe analogy, subsequent stages (if warranted) would be guided by the location of the residual skin cancer. If the skin cancer is in the epidermis (rind) or dermis (flesh), then a skin specimen from the perimeter of the defect would be indicated. Residual skin cancer extending into the subcutaneous layer (seed cavity) would require a deeper resection.
Practice Implications
The cantaloupe provides a simple analogy to conceptualize the transition from the multilayered 3-dimensional skin tissue specimen to the 2-dimensional histologic slide specimen. Use of this cantaloupe analogy will aid dermatology residents and others interested in gaining a clearer understanding of MMS.
- Semkova K, Mallipeddi R, Robson A, et al. Mohs micrographic surgery concordance between Mohs surgeons and dermatopathologists. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39:1648-1652.
- ACGME program requirements for graduate medical education in dermatology. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education website. https://www.acgme.org/Portals/0/PFAssets/ProgramRequirements/080_dermatology_2017-07-01.pdf. Updated July 1, 2017. Accessed June 6, 2018.
- Wolfe CR. Plant a tree in cyberspace: metaphor and analogy as design elements in Web-based learning environments. CyberPsychol Behav. 2001;4:67-76.
- Beck B, Peters SR. Frozen section techniques used in Mohs micrographic surgery. In: Peters SR, ed. A Practical Guide to Frozen Section Technique. New York, NY: Springer; 2010:151-170.
- Lee E, Wolverton JE, Somani AK. A simple, effective analogy to elucidate the Mohs micrographic surgery procedure—the peanut butter cup. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153:743-744.
Practice Gap
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a highly curative tissue-sparing skin cancer treatment1 and is a required component of dermatology residency training. According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, residents must have exposure “either through direct observation or as an assistant in Mohs micrographic surgery, and reconstruction of these defects, to include flaps and grafts.”2 The MMS technique allows for complete circumferential peripheral and deep margin assessment of excised specimens; however, the conformation of a 3-dimensional gross tissue specimen into a 2-dimensional specimen as represented on a microscope slide is challenging to conceptualize.
Behavioral science research has shown that analogies and metaphors help integrate topics into a memorable format and produce deeper comprehension.3 As such, analogies can aid in the visualization of these complex spatial concepts. The MMS tissue-processing technique has been compared to flattening a pie pan.4 More recently, a peanut butter cup analogy was described as a visualization tool for explaining the various steps of MMS to patients.5 Although these analogies may help elucidate certain aspects of the MMS technique, none adequately account for the multilayered anatomy of the skin.
The Technique
To address this need, we developed the cantaloupe analogy, which provides visual representation of the 3 basic skin layers: (1) the rind represents the epidermis; (2) the flesh represents the dermis, and (3) the seed cavity represents the subcutaneous layer (Figures 1 and 2).
In MMS tissue processing, the peripheral margin of the ovoid excised skin specimen is pressed down into the same plane as the deepest layer through a process called relaxation.4 The cantaloupe represents the dome shape of the relaxed tissue, which is then serially sectioned in horizontal layers from deep to superficial (Figure 2). The first slice represents the deepest subcutaneous layer and most peripheral dermal and epidermal layers of the specimen (Figure 3). Using the cantaloupe analogy, subsequent stages (if warranted) would be guided by the location of the residual skin cancer. If the skin cancer is in the epidermis (rind) or dermis (flesh), then a skin specimen from the perimeter of the defect would be indicated. Residual skin cancer extending into the subcutaneous layer (seed cavity) would require a deeper resection.
Practice Implications
The cantaloupe provides a simple analogy to conceptualize the transition from the multilayered 3-dimensional skin tissue specimen to the 2-dimensional histologic slide specimen. Use of this cantaloupe analogy will aid dermatology residents and others interested in gaining a clearer understanding of MMS.
Practice Gap
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a highly curative tissue-sparing skin cancer treatment1 and is a required component of dermatology residency training. According to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, residents must have exposure “either through direct observation or as an assistant in Mohs micrographic surgery, and reconstruction of these defects, to include flaps and grafts.”2 The MMS technique allows for complete circumferential peripheral and deep margin assessment of excised specimens; however, the conformation of a 3-dimensional gross tissue specimen into a 2-dimensional specimen as represented on a microscope slide is challenging to conceptualize.
Behavioral science research has shown that analogies and metaphors help integrate topics into a memorable format and produce deeper comprehension.3 As such, analogies can aid in the visualization of these complex spatial concepts. The MMS tissue-processing technique has been compared to flattening a pie pan.4 More recently, a peanut butter cup analogy was described as a visualization tool for explaining the various steps of MMS to patients.5 Although these analogies may help elucidate certain aspects of the MMS technique, none adequately account for the multilayered anatomy of the skin.
The Technique
To address this need, we developed the cantaloupe analogy, which provides visual representation of the 3 basic skin layers: (1) the rind represents the epidermis; (2) the flesh represents the dermis, and (3) the seed cavity represents the subcutaneous layer (Figures 1 and 2).
In MMS tissue processing, the peripheral margin of the ovoid excised skin specimen is pressed down into the same plane as the deepest layer through a process called relaxation.4 The cantaloupe represents the dome shape of the relaxed tissue, which is then serially sectioned in horizontal layers from deep to superficial (Figure 2). The first slice represents the deepest subcutaneous layer and most peripheral dermal and epidermal layers of the specimen (Figure 3). Using the cantaloupe analogy, subsequent stages (if warranted) would be guided by the location of the residual skin cancer. If the skin cancer is in the epidermis (rind) or dermis (flesh), then a skin specimen from the perimeter of the defect would be indicated. Residual skin cancer extending into the subcutaneous layer (seed cavity) would require a deeper resection.
Practice Implications
The cantaloupe provides a simple analogy to conceptualize the transition from the multilayered 3-dimensional skin tissue specimen to the 2-dimensional histologic slide specimen. Use of this cantaloupe analogy will aid dermatology residents and others interested in gaining a clearer understanding of MMS.
- Semkova K, Mallipeddi R, Robson A, et al. Mohs micrographic surgery concordance between Mohs surgeons and dermatopathologists. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39:1648-1652.
- ACGME program requirements for graduate medical education in dermatology. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education website. https://www.acgme.org/Portals/0/PFAssets/ProgramRequirements/080_dermatology_2017-07-01.pdf. Updated July 1, 2017. Accessed June 6, 2018.
- Wolfe CR. Plant a tree in cyberspace: metaphor and analogy as design elements in Web-based learning environments. CyberPsychol Behav. 2001;4:67-76.
- Beck B, Peters SR. Frozen section techniques used in Mohs micrographic surgery. In: Peters SR, ed. A Practical Guide to Frozen Section Technique. New York, NY: Springer; 2010:151-170.
- Lee E, Wolverton JE, Somani AK. A simple, effective analogy to elucidate the Mohs micrographic surgery procedure—the peanut butter cup. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153:743-744.
- Semkova K, Mallipeddi R, Robson A, et al. Mohs micrographic surgery concordance between Mohs surgeons and dermatopathologists. Dermatol Surg. 2013;39:1648-1652.
- ACGME program requirements for graduate medical education in dermatology. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education website. https://www.acgme.org/Portals/0/PFAssets/ProgramRequirements/080_dermatology_2017-07-01.pdf. Updated July 1, 2017. Accessed June 6, 2018.
- Wolfe CR. Plant a tree in cyberspace: metaphor and analogy as design elements in Web-based learning environments. CyberPsychol Behav. 2001;4:67-76.
- Beck B, Peters SR. Frozen section techniques used in Mohs micrographic surgery. In: Peters SR, ed. A Practical Guide to Frozen Section Technique. New York, NY: Springer; 2010:151-170.
- Lee E, Wolverton JE, Somani AK. A simple, effective analogy to elucidate the Mohs micrographic surgery procedure—the peanut butter cup. JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153:743-744.
