Mohs Surgery

By: Raymond Kwah Yung Chien Dr (Dermatology & Surgery Clinic)  21/02/2015
Keywords: Skin Cancer, Mohs Surgery

In Mohs surgery, the visible portion of the skin tumour is 1st removed. Further tissue that may have cancer cells, are then removed one layer at a time. This tissue is examined under a microscope while the patient is still in the dermatology unit. If it contains cancer cells, another layer of tissue is removed and examined. This is repeated until all the cancer cells have been removed. Your doctor may have recommended Mohs’ surgery because: -your skin cancer has returned; -your tumour was previously removed, but some cancer cells remain; -your tumour is in an area where we want to reduce the amount of healthy tissue we remove, such as on your eyelids, nose, ears or lips; or -the edges of your tumour are not well defined. -The tumour is of a more aggressive kind Other types of surgery for skin tumours rely on the surgeon being able to see the extent of the cancer, which can either lead to a large wound and scar if too much healthy tissue is removed or too little tissue being removed and the cancer returning. Micrographic surgery maximises the chances that your tumour will be completely excised (removed) while minimising the amount of surrounding normal skin needing to be taken away.

Keywords: Mohs Surgery, Skin Cancer

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