Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective treatment for high-risk skin cancers. This specialized surgery combines pathology on the same day, which allows smaller amounts of tissue to be taken and examination of 100% of the tissue margin. Mohs surgery has the highest cure rate for skin cancers -- 99% for skin cancers that have not been treated before and 94% for skin cancers that have been previously treated.

For each stage, the visible tumor and a thin layer of surrounding skin are removed

Microscope in Mohs surgery to examine skin cancer

The tissue is examined under a microscope to see if any cancer cells remain at any of the edges

Stage two in Mohs surgery to treat skin cancer

If any cancer cells remain, additional skin is removed and examined under the microscope

This process continues until no more cancer cells are found at the edges