The cure rate for Mohs micrographic surgery is the highest of all skin cancer treatments – up to 99%. This procedure, the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, minimizes the chance of regrowth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement. Mohs is most often used in treating two of the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Procedure

The Mohs process includes a specific sequence of surgery and pathological investigation. Mohs surgeons examine the removed tissue for evidence of extended cancer roots. Once the visible tumor is removed, Mohs surgeons trace the paths of the tumor using two key tools:

1. A map of the surgical site
2. A microscope

Once the obvious tumor is removed,
Mohs surgeons:

• Remove an additional, thin layer of tissue from the tumor site
• Create a "map" or drawing of the removed tissue to be used as a guide to the precise location of any remaining cancer cells
• Microscopically examine the removed tissue thoroughly to check for evidence of remaining cancer cells

If any of the sections contain cancer
cells, Mohs surgeons:

• Return to the specific area of the tumor site as indicated by the map
• Remove another thin layer of tissue only from the specific area within each section where cancer cells were detected
• Microscopically examine the newly removed tissue for additional cancer cells

If microscopic analysis still shows evidence of disease, the process continues layer-by-layer until the cancer is completely gone. This selective removal of only diseased tissue allows preservation of much of the surrounding normal tissue, resulting in smaller scars with less complicated reconstruction.

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Mohs Micrographic Surgery:

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