Mohs reconstruction is a highly skilled and precise surgical technique for the removal of various types of facial, head and neck skin cancers. This procedure involves the surgical removal of layers of cancerous skin cells until only healthy, non-cancerous tissue is reached. Mohs surgery offers the best chance for completely removing skin cancer while conserving as much healthy skin as possible. The procedure has the highest published cure rates for many forms of skin cancer, making it less likely the cancer will grow back.
Treating Complex Skin Cancer
For some head and neck skin cancers patients, there are factors that make it difficult or not possible for clean resection or reconstruction in the traditional Mohs clinic. That is why Penn has developed a program specifically for treating these patients with more complex skin cancer. These factors include:
- Tumor size is too big or complex to resect or reconstruct
- Bone or “deep” soft tissue involvement
- Regional metastatic disease
- Cranial neuropathies
- Need for microvascular reconstruction
- Nerve sacrifice requiring grafting
Whether identified before or during your initial Mohs surgery, the Penn team is able to address the complexities of these patients. Penn head and neck cancer surgeons and Penn reconstructive surgeons work together with your Mohs surgeon to provide unparalleled care to manage complex disease and provide optimal reconstruction.
For some patients with large or complex skin cancers, traditional Mohs surgery can involve the removal of a substantial amount of skin and tissue. The procedure can also impair the functionality of the facial structures, such as the nose, eyes and lips.
Penn Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers advanced Mohs reconstruction for these complex cases – avoiding incomplete or partial reconstruction.
Advanced Mohs reconstruction is often recommended for patients whose head and neck skin cancer involves lymph nodes or when there is evidence that their cancer has invaded a motor or sensory nerve of the face.
Penn Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers advanced Mohs reconstruction for patients with diabetes, immunosuppression or other factors likely to complicate healing; in cases where facial lesions involve functionally significant areas like the lip or nose; or when the likely exposure of bone or cartilage suggests the need for immediate closure.