Mohs surgery is an advanced and high effective process for common types of skin cancer. Also known as chemosurgery, this technique is mostly used to eliminate two most common types of skin cancer that is basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Procedure
The Mohs procedure is essentially a pathology sectioning method that allows for the complete examination of the surgical margin.
Mohs surgery is performed in four steps:
Visible and obvious area of growth on the skin is removed by cutting or scraping.
Mapping the piece of tissue, freezing and cutting the tissue between 5 and 10 micrometers using a cryostat, and staining with hematoxylin and eosin or other stains (including T. Blue)
Excised tissue is examined under the microscope. Before this tissue is examined, it is marked with colored dyes to distinguish top from bottom and right from left. By doing this, we are able to pinpoint the exact location of any remaining tumor during the microscopic examination.
The procedure is repeated in case more cancer is found. But only in the area of the remaining cancer.
How effective Mohs Surgery is?
Mentioned by many studies, this microscopically controlled surgery has cure rate between 97% and 99% for primary basal cell carcinoma. Thus, with this technique, an excellent chance of cure is achieved.
What are the advantages of Mohs' Surgery?
By microscopic examination, surgeon can pinpoint areas involving cancer and selectively remove tissues.
The skin cancer is traced out to its roots. This results in the removal of as little normal tissue as possible and the highest chance of cure.
Other forms of therapy frequently have only a 50% to 70% chance of success in curing skin cancers that have had previously unsuccessful treatment.
Will the surgery leave a scar?
MOHS surgery also leaves scar like other therapy. However, the Mohs' Surgery procedure tends to minimize this as much as possible.
Who is the ideal candidate for Mohs surgery?
Generally, the best candidates for Mohs surgery are those who have skin cancer around the nose, ears or eyes, on the surface of the skin. Plus, a person is also ideal candidate who is good in physical and psychological health and realistic in their expectations.
Mohs surgery should not be applied for every skin cancer in spite of its many advantages. Plus, to perform this surgery, it requires expertly trained physicians who can function as both surgeons and pathologists. Finally, cancers that have already spread to lymph glands or elsewhere are not treatable with this technique.
Above all, your doctor is best person to tell you about whether you are an ideal candidate or not.
