What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs micrographic surgery is a step-wise surgical technique to remove skin cancer. This process was first developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the 1930s at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate for localized skin cancer, up to 99 percent for skin cancers that have not been previously treated. Mohs surgery is primarily used to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and is appropriate for skin cancers located on the scalp, face, neck, hands, feet, and genitals where it is important to preserve healthy tissue. Other indications include skin cancers in areas of prior radiation, skin cancers that have been previously treated and have regrown, aggressive skin cancers, skin cancers that are growing rapidly, and skin cancers in immunocompromised patients. Your physician will discuss with you if Mohs micrographic surgery is the appropriate treatment for your skin cancer based on skin cancer type, location and size.
