Mohs surgery, named for Fredrick Mohs, was first
conceived sixty years ago using chemical fixatives to allow
tissue from the skin to be cut and examined for malignancy,
but has evolved rapidly  in recent years due to the ability to
freeze tissue to allow a much faster turnaround. This
breakthrough is what allows tumors that have recurred,
are located close to vital structures, or which exhibit particularly aggressive features under the microscope, to be removed with
99% accuracy, and the defect to be surgically repaired, all in
the same office visit.

Utilizing Mohs surgical techniques, the surgeon performs
precise excision of the skin cancer in stages, one tissue layer
at a time. The tissue is then processed onto microscope slides
by a Mohs histotechnician. These slides are carefully examined
under the microscope by the Mohs surgeon so that any
microscopic roots of the cancer can be precisely identified and mapped. Unlike conventional techniques which only sample a
small portion of the edges, around 1%, Dr. Ewanowski
examines 100% of the edge and bottom of the tissue. When
cancer cells are seen, an additional tissue layer is removed only
in areas where the cancer is still present, saving as much normal,
healthy skin as possible.

This tissue sparing technique results in a smaller post-surgical
defect, and once the cancer has been removed entirely, Dr. Ewanowski will explain options for repair of the wound. The
chances of developing a recurrence of your cancer is extremely
low, less than 1%, in the skilled hands of a fellowship trained
Mohs surgeon, such as Dr. Ewanowski.