Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Treats: BCC, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma
Treatment Overview: Mohs Micrographic Surgery is an advanced technique for treating skin cancer that will remove all the cancer, minimize the risk of recurrence, and leave as little scarring as possible. It relies on the accuracy of a map of the diseased tissue area and the precision of a microscope to trace out and complete removal of the cancer- down to its roots.
Types of Cancer Most Likely to Warrant Mohs Surgery:
- Cancers located in cosmetically sensitive or functionally critical areas around the eyes, nose, lips, scalp, fingers, toes or genitals.
- Large, aggressive, or rapidly growing cancers.
- Recurrent Cancers
The Mohs Surgery Process*
- Step 1: The roots of a skin cancer may extend beyond the visible portion of the tumor. If these roots are not removed, the cancer will recur.
- Step 2: The visible portion of the tumor is surgically removed.
- Step 3: A layer of skin is removed and divided into sections. The Mohs surgeon then color codes each of these sections with dyes and makes reference marks on the skin to show the source of these sections. A map of the surgical site is then drawn.
- Step 4: the undersurface and edged of each section are microscopically examined for evidence of remaining cancer.
- Step 5: If cancer cells are found under the microscope, the Mohs surgeon marks their location on to the map and returns to the patient to remove another layer of skin- but only from precisely where the cancer cells remain.
- Step 6: The removal process stops when there is no longer any evidence of cancer remaining in the surgical site. Because Mohs surgery removes only tissue containing cancer, it ensures that the maximum amount of healthy tissue is kept intact.
*Mohs surgery process is reprinted from the ‘Mohs Micrographic Surgery’ brochure, published by the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS)
Immediately Before Surgery | During Surgery | Immediatley After Surgery |
