Atlanta Mohs surgery is a highly specialized, tissue sparing technique for removing skin cancer. Developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs, the Mohs micrographic technique results in the highest cure rates for the most common skin cancers. Published cure rates of 99% for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) make Mohs surgery the gold standard in skin cancer therapy. The Mohs technique is designed to be tissue-sparing by allowing the surgeon to progressively remove thin layers of cancerous tissue, examine all margins under a microscope and then repair the defect upon complete tumor removal. Mohs surgery in Atlanta allows for the removal of skin cancer with as little cosmetic impact as possible.
A tumor has roots that extend outward and down from the visible portion on the skin surface. Some tumors that appear small on clinical exam may actually have an extensive invasion into the underlying tissue. For this reason, it is impossible to predict the extent of a skin cancer or the number of Mohs layers it may take to remove it. However, one of the many benefits of Mohs surgery is that a patient will (almost always) have Mohs surgery completed and repaired in a single day, thus a patient who walks into a practice with a skin cancer will most likely be able to leave cancer free.
How is Mohs surgery performed and how does it work?
Step 1: The patient receives local anesthesia to the afflicted area & the visible portion of the tumor is removed. The tissue is color coded and corresponding reference marks are made on the skin for orientation. This process is called tissue ” mapping.” The tissue is taken to the lab where it is frozen and then cut into paper thin layers by a cryostat. These layers, only a few cells thick, are then examined under a microscope by your Mohs surgeon. The entire margin of the removed tissue, including the entire circumference as well as the deep margin, is examined for evidence of remaining tumor.
Step 2: If the surgeon finds any remaining cancer cells under the microscope, he will mark it on the patient map denoting the location of the remaining tumor and return to take an additional layer. This layer will only include the smaller area in which tumor is remaining. Again this tissue will be taken back to the lab, processed and examined under the microscope.
Step 3: The “mapping” technique allows the Mohs surgeon to remove only the cancerous tissue and preserve the nearby healthy tissue, thus keeping the wound as small as possible.
Step 4: The Mohs layers will continue until all of the cancerous tissue has been successfully removed.
Step 5: Once the cancer has been completely removed, the surgeon will perform the reconstruction that will give you the best functional and cosmetic outcome.
Why should I choose Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is a highly specialized, tissue sparing technique for removing skin cancer. Developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs, the Mohs micrographic technique results in the highest cure rates for the most common skin cancers. Published cure rates of 99% for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) make Mohs surgery the gold standard in skin cancer therapy. The Mohs technique is designed to be tissue-sparing by allowing the surgeon to progressively remove thin layers of cancerous tissue, examine all margins under a microscope and then repair the defect upon complete tumor removal. It allows for the removal of skin cancer with as little cosmetic impact as possible.
Am I a Candidate for Mohs Surgery?
Atlanta Mohs surgery is recommended for skin cancers on the head (including scalp), neck, hands, feet, shins, genitalia and for most large, recurrent or aggressive cancers. The most common skin cancers treated with Mohs surgery are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma in situ but almost all skin cancers can be effectively treated with Mohs surgery.
Interested in learning more about how you can benefit from Mohs micrographic surgery? Contact Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta to schedule a consultation.