What is the Role of Mohs Surgeons?
Mohs surgeons play a specialized and central role in the treatment of certain types of skin cancer through a procedure called Mohs surgery. It can be used to address basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, two common forms of skin cancer. Their advanced training and unique expertise enable a precise approach that is especially valuable for skin cancers located on the face and other sensitive areas.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a precise, systematic method for removing certain skin cancers. This procedure is especially utilized for tumors that have a high risk of recurrence. Mohs surgeons excise the visible portion of the tumor along with a thin layer of surrounding tissue. The surgeon examines this excision under a microscope, checking for remaining cancer cells. Steps continue until no cancer cells are present at the tissue edges, indicating complete removal.
Mohs surgery’s approach is distinct from standard excision, during which a predetermined margin of healthy tissue is removed along with the visible tumor. This can result in a wait for results and possible uncertainty about cancer clearance. The comprehensive tissue evaluation performed by the Mohs surgeon during the surgery provides a thorough and immediate assessment.
What Are Mohs Surgeons?
A Mohs surgeon is a dermatologist who can perform Mohs micrographic surgery. Unlike most surgical procedures in dermatology, Mohs surgery is performed by physicians serving in three roles during the same appointment. They operate as the surgeon, the pathologist who reviews tissue samples, and the reconstructive surgeon who repairs the wound. Their dual proficiency in surgery and pathology helps limit the removal of healthy skin. This is an aspect that can be meaningful when treating areas where cosmetic or functional preservation is significant.
What Does It Entail?
Mohs surgery is typically carried out in a dermatology office or surgical center with an on-site laboratory. Patients arrive for a single appointment, though the procedure may span several hours depending on the number of stages required. Local anesthesia is administered to numb the area, and the surgeon removes the initial tissue layer containing the tumor.
The tissue is immediately processed and examined on microscope slides. This processing allows the Mohs surgeon to assess the entire peripheral and deep margins of the excised tissue, which provides a more complete evaluation. If any skin cancer remains at the margins, only the tissue precisely where cancer cells persist is removed in subsequent stages. This iterative process continues until all margins are clear of tumor.
The Mohs surgeon evaluates the wound to determine the optimal repair method after the cancer is removed, which ranges from direct closure with stitches to more advanced repairs involving local skin flaps or grafts. In some cases, wounds may be left to heal naturally based on their size and location. The approach aims to achieve the best functional and cosmetic outcome.
Seek Professional Skin Cancer Treatment
Mohs surgery is a highly effective treatment for skin cancers located in areas where preserving healthy tissue is especially valuable. Its success is closely tied to the expertise of Mohs surgeons. They can guide patients through treatment and establish follow-up care. Regular dermatologic examinations and prompt evaluation of changing or non-healing skin lesions remain the foundation for the best outcomes in skin cancer management.
