If you have a biopsy-proven skin cancer and would like to schedule a clinic evaluation at the UNM Cancer Research and Treatment Center (CRTC) for Mohs micrographic surgery with Dr. R. Steven Padilla, please call New Patient Registration at 272-2839. If you have previously seen Dr. Padilla, please call Scheduling at 272-6337.
Patients wishing an evaluation by Dr. Phillip Strange should call UNM Dermatology at 272-6222.
Mohs micrographic surgery, a surgical treatment for skin cancer developed by Dr. Frederick E. Mohs at the University of Wisconsin, has an extremely high cure rate. The procedure consists of surgical removal of the tumor, tissue mapping, and microscopic examination of the tissue plane to evaluate the surgical margins. If tumor cells are still present, the mapping allows the exact location of the cancerous region to be determined, and the surgeon is able to remove more tissue from only that area. In this way, more normal skin can be preserved, with a resulting smaller wound.
The University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center has two of the only four board certified Mohs surgeons in the state of New Mexico. Surgeries are performed several times each month. Because of the nature of the procedure, all appointments are scheduled in the morning.
MOHS' surgery, also known as MOHS' chemosurgery and MOHS' micrographic surgery, is a highly specialized procedure specifically developed to remove skin cancer. The original procedure as described by Dr. MOHS consists of three steps:
The application of a fixative material to the skin cancer has been omitted in recent years and allows for more rapid case progression with less pain and inflammation. This particular modification is called the "fresh tissue technique" and is the most frequent MOHS' technique used today.
However, prior to being examined the microscope, the tissue sample is marked with colored dyes to differentiate the top from the bottom and the right side from the left side. By this method, the exact location of any remaining tumor can be pinpointed during the microscopic examination. When remaining cancer is discovered, the MOHS' procedure is repeated only in the area of the remaining cancer.
