Mohs Surgery: What Is It?
While number of treatment options exist for skin cancer, Mohs surgery has proved to be the most effective, providing both the highest cure rate, and the least amount of scarring. Originally developed by Frederic Mohs, M.D., Mohs surgery is a very particular, in-office technique of removing and examining cancerous tissue layer by layer in order to ensure complete removal of the cancer without unnecessarily sacrificing healthy tissue in the process. The cancer can be removed, processed, and examined in the lab while you wait comfortably in your room, and you can leave the office with confidence that the margins of the cancer are “clear” the same day, rather than waiting several days for a pathology report.
Mohs is considered the “gold standard” for removal of skin cancer because it provides both the highest cure rate and the least amount of scarring as compared to other methods of treatment. It is most frequently used in the treatment of basal and squamous cell carcinomas but may be used for less common skin cancers as well. Mohs is most often used for cancers of the head, neck, face, hands, and legs but may be used for any skin cancer that meets the appropriate criteria.
Benefits of Mohs Surgery
The benefits of Mohs for skin cancer removal are numerous, making it largely favorable in comparison to other options. Here are a few of the most notable benefits.
· The precision of Mohs and examination of each layer under a microscope ensures that the smallest necessary amount of tissue is taken and that healthy tissue is spared.
· Since the scar after reconstruction is ultimately dependent on the size of the tumor and amount of tissue removed, Mohs surgery also helps minimize scarring and produces a better cosmetic result.
· It does not require general anesthesia, so you don’t have to be “put to sleep.” Rather, it can be performed in a comfortable office setting with local injections.
· It is an ideal option for those who may not be a good candidate for other types of surgery under general anesthesia, including the elderly who are often afflicted by skin cancer.
· There is no hospital time required as the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.
· The microscopic examination of tissue as it is removed ensures clear margins and eliminates any guesswork required by other techniques.