What Is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs micrographic surgery is a step-by-step technique used most often for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It removes cancerous tissue while preserving as much surrounding healthy tissue as possible.
Central Dermatology Center provides Mohs surgery with Dr. Carolyn Hardin and Dr. William Delgado.
How Mohs Surgery Works
The procedure is performed with local anesthesia. Your surgeon maps the lesion and removes a thin layer of tissue. That tissue and the surrounding margins are examined under a microscope.
If the margins are clear, the removal is complete. If cancer cells remain at a margin, the map guides removal of another layer from the precise area where cells remain. The process continues until the margins are clear. The surgical wound is then treated.
Because tissue is removed in layers, Mohs surgery can preserve more healthy tissue than a wider traditional excision. The procedure can take time because each layer must be mapped and examined.
Cure rates are near 99% for most skin cancers treated for the first time and 95% for recurring cancers. Your surgeon can explain what those figures mean for the specific type, location, and history of your skin cancer.
When Mohs Surgery May Be Considered
Mohs surgery may be considered for:
- Skin cancers that have returned after prior excision
- Lesions in areas where conserving tissue is important, including the eyes, ears, lips, nose, hands, genitalia, and feet
- Aggressive, large, or fast-growing lesions
Not every skin cancer requires Mohs surgery. For lesions that are less likely to recur or are not advanced, a dermatologist may discuss traditional surgical excision or another treatment.
Mohs surgery is used where conserving healthy tissue can be particularly important, but every procedure still involves a wound and the possibility of a scar. The extent of treatment depends on the cancer found in each examined layer.
Mohs is a precise surgical treatment, but it is not automatically the right choice for every diagnosis. The location, size, growth pattern, prior treatment, and risk of recurrence all help determine whether it is appropriate.
Referral Information
Referring providers can fax Mohs referrals to (877) 629-1937. Include relevant office notes, the pathology report, and a color biopsy photograph when available.
