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Medical
Dermatology - MOHS Micrographic
Surgery
Mohs surgery is a
highly effective treatment
for certain types of skin
cancer. It is
an exacting procedure in which
the dermatologist performs both
surgical excision of the skin
cancer and microscopic
examination of the surgical
margins to ensure that all skin
cancer cells have been removed.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery is
an advanced treatment process
for skin cancer that offers the
highest possible cure rate for
many skin cancers and
simultaneously minimizes the
sacrifice of normal tissue. The
microscopic analysis of
resected tissue allows the
surgeon to track the removal of
the cancer and ensure the
complete elimination of all
tumor roots. As tumors often
extend below intact normal skin
(like the roots of a tree) this
procedure allows the surgeon to
see beyond the visible tumor to
ensure its complete removal.
The technique is most often
used to remove the two most
common forms of skin cancer:
basal cell carcinoma and
squamous cell carcinoma.
The cure rates for Mohs
Micrographic Surgery approach
99% for most primary
(untreated) cancers with a
slightly lower cure rate for
secondary or recurrent
(previously treated) cancers.
While limiting the sacrifice of
uninvolved tissue, this
specialized procedure preserves
the greatest amount of normal
tissue. This benefit of the
procedure provides the
foundation for the best
reconstructions and limits
scarring or permanent
disfigurement.
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