Mohs surgery is one of the most effective weapons in the fight against skin cancer. It is an effective treatment for most types of skin cancer and has a high success rate. But how is Mohs surgery performed, and why is it the foremost treatment for cancer.
What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery or Mohs micrographic surgeryis a highly specialized and very precise treatment for skin cancer. The surgical technique was developed in the 1930’s by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs. Mohs surgeryis a popular treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
How is Mohs Surgery performed?
Mohs surgery is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, and involves the progressive removal of the cancerous skin. The tumor is surgically excised along with a thin layer of tissue, which is color coded by placing a special dye along the edges. A map of the tissue is then created, so that the surgeon can identify where the cancer cells are, and remove the roots.
Once each layer of tissue is excised, it is examined under a microscopeto determine if any cancer cells are still there. If cancer cells are present, the area is marked on the map, and another layer of tissue removed. This process will continue until there are no more cancer cells.
Mohs surgery is the leading treatment for cancer, because it preserves much of the healthy tissue. Also, because of the technique used to perform the operation, there is much less chance that any of the underlying cancer cells will be missed during surgery.
Are you interested in learning more about Mohs surgery? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.
If you are in the Memphis TN area, Levy Dermatology is our featured practice.
You can reach them at www.levydermatology.com, or by calling (901) 295-0167.