Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery, developed by a dermatologist named Fredrick Mohs, has become the gold standard for treating skin cancers such as basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Typically employed for difficult-to-treat cancers, Mohs surgery involves removing the visible tumor along with thin layers of skin underneath. A dermatopathologist then examines these removed layers for the presence of cancerous cells. This process, known as mapping, enables a surgeon to pinpoint and remove the areas of cancerous tissue until they can no longer detect any cells. This procedure has several advantages over conventional skin cancer treatments, as it offers a higher rate of cure rate and avoids unnecessary removal of healthy tissue. Additionally, because it carefully targets cancerous cells, it can help to preserve the surrounding healthy tissue which minimizes scarring and ensures that the best cosmetic outcome is achieved. During the day or surgery, the patient is awake and is numbed with local anesthetic. The whole process can usually be finished within three hours. Initially, the area of skin cancer is marked and the surrounding tissue is numbed. A curette (small spoon-shaped instrument) is then used to remove visible tumor, and a map is used to indicate the underlying tissue layers. The removed tissue is examined under a microscope to see if cancer is still present. If it is, the map is noted and another layer of tissue is removed. This cycle will continue until all cancer cells are removed. In summary, Mohs surgery is a precise, safe and effective technique for treating skin cancer and is increasingly being used since it offers the highest cure rates for these kinds of cancer. Furthermore, it minimizes the chance of scarring or other complications as only the layer of skin containing the cancer cells is removed.