Mohs surgery
Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery (pronounced "moes") is a precise surgical technique used to treat skin cancer. During Mohs surgery, thin layers of cancer-containing skin are progressively removed and examined until only cancer-free tissue remains. Mohs surgery is also known as Mohs micrographic surgery.
Etymology
The procedure is named after Frederic E. Mohs, the physician who developed the technique in the 1930s.
Procedure
The goal of Mohs surgery is to remove as much of the skin cancer as possible, while doing minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Mohs surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis using a local anesthetic.
Advantages
Mohs surgery has a high cure rate. It's often used for skin cancers that:
- Have a high risk of recurrence or that have recurred after previous treatment
- Are located in areas where you want to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible, such as around the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, feet and genitals
- Have borders that are hard to define
- Are large or aggressive
Related Terms
- Dermatology: The branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases.
- Skin Cancer: The abnormal growth of skin cells, most often developed on skin exposed to the sun.
- Basal Cell Carcinoma: A type of skin cancer that begins in the basal cells.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A type of skin cancer that begins in the squamous cells.
- Melanoma: The most serious type of skin cancer, develops in the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives your skin its color.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mohs surgery
- Wikipedia's article - Mohs surgery
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