Mohs Surgery Achieves High Cure Rates for Common Skin Cancers

Treatment with Mohs micrographic surgery produces cure rates of93% to 99% for the most common skin cancers, basal cell carcinomasand squamous cell carcinomas, Perry Robins, md, reported in The1996 Skin Cancer Foundation Journal.

"Mohs can trace cancers to their roots, sacrifice the smallestamount of healthy tissue, and achieve the best cosmetic results,"Dr. Robins, Professor of Clinical Dermatology, New York UniversitySchool of Medicine, and Chief of Mohs Micrographic Surgery, NewYork University Medical Center, wrote.

In his article, Dr. Robins described three cases of skin cancer:on the thumb, the tip of the penis, and the ear. In each case,amputation appeared to be the only way to remove the cancer. Instead,by means of Mohs micrographic surgery, the cancers were removedwithout such drastic measures. Function was retained and the cosmeticresults were good.

Dr. Robins concluded that the Mohs surgical technique is an extremelyeffective method for treating skin cancer. He has operated onmore than 32,000 people with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomasduring the last 30 years.