What Does The Mohs Micrographic Surgery Procedure Involve?
The visible tumor along with a thin rim (1-2 mm) of healthy tissue is excised and, while keeping orientation, processed in a unique manner and examined under the microscope. On the microscopic slides, the Mohs surgeon examines the entire bottom surface and outside edges of the tissue. (This differs from the frozen sections prepared in a regular laboratory setting which, in fact, represent only a tiny sampling of the tumor margins.) This tissue has been marked to orient top to bottom and left to right. If any tumor is seen during the microscopic examination, its location is established, and a thin layer of additional tissue is excised from the involved area. The microscopic examination is then repeated. The entire process is repeated until no tumor is found.
