Mohs micrographic surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a precise surgical technique used to treat skin cancer. During MMS, 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.

The goal of the 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.

Mohs surgery is effective for most types of skin cancer, but it's most commonly used to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Procedure

Mohs surgery is done in stages, all in one visit, while the patient waits between each stage. After removing a layer of tissue, the surgeon examines it under a microscope in an on-site lab. If any cancer cells remain, the surgeon knows the exact area where they are and removes another layer of tissue from that precise location, while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. The process is repeated until no cancer cells remain.

Advantages

The main advantage of Mohs surgery is that it allows the surgeon to verify that all cancer cells have been removed at the time of surgery. This increases the chance of a cure and reduces the need for additional treatments or additional surgery.

Risks

As with any surgical procedure, Mohs surgery carries the risk of infection and bleeding. Other risks associated with Mohs surgery might include nerve damage if the cancer is near a nerve, and a rare risk of the cancer returning.

Recovery

After Mohs surgery, you can expect to return to your normal activities within a week or two, depending on the extent of the surgery.

See also

• Skin cancer
• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma

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