our practice
contact information
- Steven R. Feldman, M.D., PhD
- Department of Dermatology
- Medical Center Blvd.
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157
- Tel: (336) 716-7740
- Fax: (336) 716-7732
- Map
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This service should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your healthcare provider.
Communicate promptly with your provider with any health related questions or concerns.
Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer
Developed by Frederic E. Mohs, M.D. in the 1930s, Mohs Micrographic Surgery for the removal of skin cancer is a highly precise, highly effective method that excises not only the visible tumor but also any “roots” that may have extended beneath the skin surface.
 View the Mohs Surgery Animation |
Mohs Surgery animation to learn more about how this procedure is performed
Five-year cure rates have been demonstrated up to 99 percent for first-treatment cancers and 95 percent for recurring cancers.
Mohs surgery involves the systematic removal and microscopic analysis of thin layers of tissue at the tumor site until the last traces of the cancer have been eliminated. The immediate and complete microscopic examination and evaluation of excised tissue is what differentiates Mohs surgery from other skin cancer removal procedures. Cancerous tissue is removed with minimal normal tissue sacrifice, minimizing both post-operative wound size and the chance of recurrence.
Mohs surgery is most commonly used for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers that have recurred are often treated using this technique because the precision of Mohs surgery is ideal for the elimination of cancers in cosmetically and functionally critical areas such as on the head, neck, hands, and feet.
Mohs surgeons undergo additional training in surgery, pathology, and reconstructive surgery to provide the best possible cosmetic outcome and the highest quality of treatment for your skin cancer.
Advantages of Mohs Surgery
In addition to its high cure rate, Mohs surgery provides several other advantages for people with skin cancer:
- Compared to traditional surgery, the precision of Mohs surgery usually causes less scarring, which leads to better cosmetic and functional outcomes.
- It requires no general anesthesia, which permits its use for people who may not be able to tolerate traditional surgery.
- Because it is so safe, it can be used for elderly people or in patients too fragile to undergo other forms of surgery.
- The procedure can often be performed in a office-based surgical suite, minimizing hospital time for patients.
- Because it uses microscopic examination of each layer of tissue to trace the edges of the cancer, Mohs surgery can more accurately eliminate diseased tissue and lessen the chance of recurrence.
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Image courtesy of Gerald Goldberg, M.D.
© 2010 Vivacare.
Last updated April 10, 2010
This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns.
Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.
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