Mohs surgery to remove cutaneous tumors

Dr. Joan Ramon Garces Gatnau is dermatologist and belongs to Top Doctors, the select circle of top-notch medical Espana. As an expert in Mohs surgery we explain the details of this intervention.

Mohs micrographic surgery, also called as Mohs surgery is a technique of extirpation of cutaneous tumors that gives us the maximum cure rate today. It consists of a stepwise removal surgery so that we removing the tumor and looking in a microscope its banks until we find that cure the entire tumor. This technique gives us a cure rate than other techniques conventional destructive techniques such as surgery or radiation therapy, photodynamic, laser, etc.... First we remove the tumor, chop in small portions and color for they can be identified. These portions are processed on a cryostat and cut into thin slices formatted for viewing under the microscope. If we look under the microscope tumor cells can be identified and marked on the chart corresponding to what would represent the injury caused by the tumor. The surgeon sees exactly where the tumor and in a second step, if necessary, this lesion is removed only where there is a tumor. We proceed exactly as in the second stage, the part is analyzed, dice, colored and turns to look under the microscope. If this second stage tumor again have to do a third stage, the second stage if we have free tumor and then we can terminate the Mohs surgery.

Mohs surgery is especially suitable for tumors that have already been discussed above, so-called recurrent tumors, because in fact they are tumors that persist after the first intervention. It also is indicated for tumors whose margins are ill-defined, we do not see clear to his classic extirpation. Or those invasive tumors, infiltrative, whose histology tell us that we will have problems with them. The Mohs surgery is used for tumors also very controversial because of its location, risk situations such as lips, Mohs surgery cure rates gives more higher than the other techniques. Actually all the circumstances in which we have to operate a tumor by surgery Mohs join, merge among them as persistent tumors are often poorly defined tumors are usually aggressive tumors, usually located in areas at risk.

Depend much we have left the wound after surgery Mohs. It can be a flesh wound, a deep wound, a puncture wound, a major wound. Also depend on where the localized. Many times if the wound is small and surface can be left to heal by secondary intention, the wound heals on its own. If the wound is extensive and largest not have no choice but to make a cutaneous graft. But most of the time the wound for proper motion of the surrounding skin or closes directly, which would be a direct closure, local flaps or skin we have to mobilize around to get the maximum aesthetic effect in healing wound.