How We Remove Skin Cancer With Mohs Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a specialized surgical technique used to remove certain types of skin cancers. This method was invented in 1930 by Frederick Mohs. The varieties of cancers removed using this procedure include:
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- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
- Melanoma
Rare types of skin cancer and precancerous skin lesions include:
- Sebaceous Carcinoma
- Atypical Fibroxanthoma
- Macrocystic Adnexal Carcinoma (MAC)
- Malignant Fibriohystiocytoma (MFH)
- Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP)
With this broad range of application, it is noticeable that MMS is highly acclaimed.
Benefits of Mohs Micrographic Surgery Performed in Calabasas
The benefits of Mohs micrographic surgery include:
- It has the highest chances of cure than other techniques such as chemotherapy and standard excision
- Healthy skin is preserved during the procedure. This assures the patient of a more elegant reconstruction and, as a result, a smaller scar. If a board-certified dermatologist does it, the cure rate is 95-99%
- MMS has a small recurrence probability of less than one percent
- The surgery involves a microscopic examination of excised tissues during the procedure which eliminates the need to estimate how deep the cancer goes
Who Needs Mohs Micrographic Surgery?
MMS is suited for several individuals or situations such as:
- Tumors located in the head, neck, face, feet, hand or genitalia
- Non-melanoma skin cancers that have been proven through a biopsy
- Large tumors on the arms, trunk or leg that are bigger than two centimeters
- Recurrent cancers located at any site
- Individuals taking immunosuppressive medications or those receiving organ transplants
- Individuals who are below 40 years
What should I expect from this cancer-treatment procedure?
MMS is performed on an outpatient basis by a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, and local anesthesia is used to numb the site of the tumor. Your surgeon scrapes the visible tumor using a special instrument and delineates the clinical margin of the tumor. After this, a thin layer of skin at the site is removed and observed under a microscope. If cancerous cells are found, another layer of skin is removed. This procedure is repeated until no cancer cells are determined under the microscope. Most patients have only two to three layers removed.
It’s hard to determine the depth of tumors and amount of reconstruction needed. However, most MMS procedures take only a few hours. But it is better to allow a full day for your Mohs micrographic surgery.