Mohs Surgery Q&A
100%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
9 Reviews
Mohs Surgerybefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Mohs Surgery Cost: $2,196

Learn about Mohs Surgery

145 people and 109 doctors are talking about Mohs Surgery

Get Free Email Updates

Does Mohs Surgeon Need Detailed Pathology Report for Best Results? (Photo)

asked 9 months ago by Mary G. in Seattle, WA
Latest answer by Robert Strimling, MD
Question viewed 156 times
Tags: history, results

A derm diagnosed BCC on my nasal ala via biopsy. I asked for a copy of the pathology report because I prefer to see a Mohs-certified doc to do the procedure. The original derm reads his own slides. The report I received says nothing other than "Basal cell carcinoma." There is no physical description of size, appearance, subtype etc. Should the report be more detailed? Would my surgeon need that info (eg how much of margins in sections are cancer-free) to best proceed with the surgery?

5 answers to Does Mohs Surgeon Need Detailed Pathology Report for Best Results? (Photo)

+2

Does Mohs Surgeon Need Detailed Pathology Report for Best Results?

I would bet your Mohs surgeon would not need anything further, but if you want to be sure, just request that the slides from your original biopsy be sent or pick them up yourself and take them to your Mohs surgeon on the morning of the procedure. Best, Dr. Malouf
Peter Malouf, DO

Dallas Dermatologist

mytotalskincare.com

+1

Mohs Surgeon needs path report

As a Mohs surgeon, I require a pathology report with at least the location and diagnosis of skin cancer. Any additional detail or information is helpful, but not completely necessary.
Robert Strimling, MD

Las Vegas Dermatologist
+1

Mohs Surgeon Certification

Since I see there are already three excellent answers to your question, let me address your mentioning of wanting to see a doctor that is Mohs certified. There are two societies that certify Mohs surgeons. They both do a good job of making sure you can know that the doctor that treats you has had adequate experience and training. They are: 1) The American Society of Mohs Surgery and their website is mohssurgery.org. 2) The American College of Mohs Surgery. Their website is... more
T. Wayne Day, MD

Nashville Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Mohs surgery and pathology

While a detailed pathology report can be helpful, it's not necessary. I receive many Mohs referrals and some have detailed path reports, and some do not. During the Mohs procedure, the Mohs surgeon is going to see where the margins are and take additional tissue as needed, anyway. That's the purpose of Mohs - to take as little skin as possible but have clear margins. Your Mohs surgeon should be able to perform the procedure with or without a detailed intial path report. more
F. Victor Rueckl, MD

Las Vegas Dermatologist
+1

Mohs surgery and pathology

The Mohs surgeon whom you see will rely on the pathology report to a) confirm the diagnosis - in this case BCC and b) add information such as type of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) that may influence the outcome. With regards to a) confirming the diagnosis. In Seattle, as in other parts of the country, skin biopsies are read by both dermatologists and dermatopathologists. To some degree it depends on the comfort/preference of the dermatologist. Pathology is an important... more
Daniel Berg, MD

Seattle Dermatologic Surgeon

Ask a question