“How does MOHS surgery remove lesions?”

This is the premier method for removing cancerous lesions and preserving as much normal non-malignant tissue as possible. It is done by removing successive layers of tissue and examining each layer until no more cancerous cells are found. Rather than removing a large piece of tissue blindly, successive layers are taken and examined individually under the microscope

Mohs surgery involves examining the tissue microscopically during the procedure to ensure that it is completely removed and minimizing the amount of skin necessary to complete the process.

Mohs surgery was founded by Frederick Mohs. It is a technique initially similar to the biopsy you had done. It is processed in the office and the slide reviewed by the Mohs surgeon. If all the margins are clear then the procedure is finished and the wound closed. If the margins are positive, then another micro graphic layer is taken and the procedure repeated until margins are clear.

Suzanne Sirota Rozenberg, DO, FAOCD