A Quasi-Experimental Study of Cosmetic Outcomes on Shave Excision for the Treatment of Acquired Melanocytic Nevi: A Pakistani Tertiary Care Hospital Experience

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the cosmetic outcomes of shave excision for the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi in a Pakistani tertiary care setting. In total, 120 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent shave excision upon being administered with intra-lesional local anesthesia (2% lignocaine with adrenaline). The lesion was shaved with a 15 number Bald Parker blade. Hemostasis was secured by pressure and 20% aluminum chloride solution. The final cosmetic outcomes (excellent, acceptable, or poor) were assessed three months post-shave excision. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, v22. Data were evaluated using chi-square tests, and the phi coefficient. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant to determine associations of age and gender to cosmetic outcomes. The mean age of included patients was 29.7±7.4 years. There were 30 (25%) male and 90 (75%) female patients. Out of these, 35 (29.2%) patients had excellent outcomes, 75 (62.5%) patients had acceptable and 10 (8.3%) patients had a poor outcome. The associations of gender and age to dermatological outcomes post-excision were significant (P<0.001). Sufficient evidence was collated to determine a relationship between age (Pearson Chi-Square = 113.94) and gender (Pearson Chi-Square = 97.143) to cosmetic outcomes (P<0.001). The phi (?) coefficient also confirmed the significance of positive associations between the cosmetic outcomes to gender and age (?= 0.974). Shave excision presents as an exceedingly useful and inexpensive method for the removal of acquired melanocytic nevi especially in a low and middle-income country like Pakistan.

Keywords

• Cosmetics
• Outcomes
• Shave
• Excision