When to consider Mohs surgery
A long-standing malignant lesion or a tumor in a cosmetically sensitive area are 2 instances in which Mohs micrographic surgery yields superior results.
Aesthetic results are another strong point of MMS. For tumor resection in cosmetically sensitive areas, MMS is the standard of care. The Mohs surgeon is trained to use closures that result in less noticeable scars and minimize distortion of surrounding tissue.
CASE With our patient, we circumscribed the clinical margins of the tumor (FIGURE 3A) before performing Mohs surgery. Two procedural stages were needed to clear all surgical margins, leaving a residual defect (FIGURE 3B). We used a cheek advancement flap to repair the wound (FIGURE 3C).
At 4 months postop, the patient was pleased with the cosmetic result (FIGURE 3D).
CORRESPONDENCE
Matthew Morrissey, MD, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Lackland AFB, TX 78236; matthew.morrissey@us.af.mil
