The procedure of Mohs micrographic surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized technique for the total removal of skin cancers. The procedure is done in several steps:

1. A local anesthetic (usually Lidocaine) is injected around the skin cancer.
2. Surgical removal of the cancer is done in a specific fashion so that the entire under-surface and skin edges can be examined microscopically.
3. The tissue is dyed and a corresponding map is drawn so that any tumor found microscopically can be located exactly on the patient.
4. The surgeon then examines the slides under the microscope to look for cancer cells.

Subsequent tissue is removed in a similar manner until no more cancer cells are found. In most cases, the surgery is done on an outpatient basis; however, in some cases, the doctor may recommend hospital admission. This is especially true for patients with large tumors, but admission is the exception rather than the rule.

If you would like more information about the Mohs micrographic surgery technique, please call us at 480.946.7939