Originally developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs in the 1930s, Mohs micrographic surgery is now state-of-the-art care for many skin cancers. It offers a cure rate as high as 99.4%. It is the single most effective surgical technique for removing the two most common types of skin cancers. It is only performed by specially trained dermatologists.
In Mohs surgery the minimum amount of healthy tissue is taken in very narrow slices which are then mapped and examined in real time while the patient waits. Narrow successive slices are taken precisely where any skin cancer remains until no further evidence of cancer remains at the surgical site. This results in a very precise and complete removal of the skin cancer that preserves the maximum amount of healthy tissue. Consideration of a number of factors is important when determining whether Mohs surgery is the best option for a particular skin cancer.