Mohs. Micrographic Surgery

Transcription

1 Mohs Micrographic Surgery

2 Welcome to Mohs Micrographic Surgery at Penn State Hershey Dermatology. Here at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Hershey Dermatology and Surgery have provided Mohs micrographic surgery for the removal of skin cancer for more than twenty years. During this time, the surgical unit has grown to three full-time Mohs surgeons and a state-of-the-art surgical suite, in which we take care of more than 1,500 skin cancer patients every year. Our patient satisfaction is consistently in the 99th percentile, and our surgeons have been recognized nationally as experts in their field.

3 What is skin cancer? More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, making it the most common form of cancer in both men and women. There are three common types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Fortunately, the majority of skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, which rarely metastasize or cause death. They usually enlarge within the skin and destroy the surrounding tissue. These are the tumors most commonly treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. What is Mohs micrographic surgery? Mohs micrographic surgery, as it is practiced today is a modification of the chemosurgery method developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the 1940s. In essence, it is a precise method for surgically removing certain high-risk skin cancers by specially trained dermatologic surgeons. It combines surgical removal of the cancer with immediate microscopic examination of all the margins of the removed tissue, in a way to best assure that the tumor has been completely removed. Unlike other methods of treatments, Mohs surgery does not rely on what the physician can see with his or her eyes. Instead, the surgeon uses the microscope to check the margins of skin that have been removed. This allows the surgeon to trace out the entire tumor and remove only the diseased tissue. This method provides exceptional cure rates and allows surgeons to save as much normal healthy tissue as possible. How effective is Mohs micrographic surgery? Using the Mohs technique, the percentage of success for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is very high, often 96 to 99 percent, even if other forms of treatment have failed.

4 Our Surgeons Elizabeth M. Billingsley, M.D. Director, Mohs Micrographic Surgery Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine Internship: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Dermatology Residency: Geisinger Medical Center Mohs Surgery Fellowship: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Clinical Interests: Skin cancer; tanning behavior intervention, organ transplantation, nail surgery Christie Travelute Ammirati, M.D. Medical School: University of Texas, Galveston Internship: Yale New Haven Hospital General Surgery Dermatology Residency: Washington University School of Medicine Mohs Surgery Fellowship: Washington University School of Medicine Clinical Interests: Skin cancer, Resident education, continuing medical education Todd V. Cartee, M.D. Medical School: Columbia University Internship: New York University General Surgery Dermatology Residency: Emory University Mohs Surgery Fellowship: Birmingham Dermatology Associates Clinical Interests: Skin cancer, lasers, leg veins, cosmetic dermatology

5 Online Resources mohscollege.org aad.org skincancer.org Why choose us? Nationally recognized Mohs surgeons with more than twenty-five years of combined experience State-of-the-art surgical suite Minimal wait for appointments Consults with other specialties within the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, as necessary Most major insurance carriers accepted

6 Penn State Hershey Dermatology 500 University Drive, University Physician Center Suite 100 Hershey, PA Phone: Fax: PennStateHershey.org/Dermatology U.Ed. MED DER