Mohs Surgery: Q&A
Ask a Question
Is This Surgery Necessary?
A small portion of the bridge of my nose excised and examined for basal cell carcinoma. Biopsy was positive. Further surgery (Mohs) is suggested. Meanwhile, the site of the bcc excision has healed over and there is only a small pink spot visible on my nose. One has to look closely to see the spot. Question: Is it possible that most of the bcc was removed on original excision? Should I have further surgery even is there appears to be no lesion visible? Can I wait to see what happens?
Tags:
7 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Wayna
+2
Most likely yes
I am sorry to hear about your skin cancer. Please remember the biopsy was only a tool to obtain a tissue diagnosis and not a treatment. It only took a portion of your lesion and it wasn't intended to remove the entire thing. This is done to find out if a lesion needs further treatment or if it is a benign (not dangerous) lesion. The wound healing process often makes it look like there is not cancer remaining but there is likely cancer left behind underneath the top layer of the skin...
more
Stamford Dermatologic Surgeon
+1
BCC excision of the nose
The biopsy of the area simply tested the area to determine a diagnosis. Even if the biopsy did in fact remove the entire lesion, which is unlikely from a routine biopsy, you will still require a procedure to remove the entire skin cancer as well as obtain adequate surgical margins to decrease your chance of recurrence of the BCC at that site.
It sounds as if it were a small area - both surgical excision and Moh's treatment will give you excellent cure rates, The...
more
+1
Mohs surgery even if biopsy spot nearly imperceptible
You ask a question that comes up over and over again in my practice. The reality is, even though you do not see anything clinically other than the pink spot from the biopsy scar, it is really impossible to tell with the naked eye whether or not all of the tumor has been removed with the biopsy. Mohs surgery is really the gold standard for treating non melanoma skin cancers on the nose because it allows us complete microscopic control of your skin while sparing normal,...
more
You might also like...
Real Stories
Very Impressed with my Surgery Experience - Seattle, WA
Last month I had a biopsy done for a lump that had been forming on my nose. This lump had...
+1
Is Surgery Necessary??
Skin cancer can grow at a rapid pace. I encourage you to have your mohs surgery as soon as possible.
+1
Mohs Surgery #mohssurgery
I do several hundred Mohs' closures every year. I think you ask such a great question that I often hear from my own patients. Unfortunately you need cleared margins. Yes, often all or most of the skin cancer is removed by biopsy but if your biopsy report states margins are positive you need clear margins. In the head and neck area I feel that Mohs is an excellent way to go. Recurrence rates are lower and cure is greater. I work very closely with Mohs surgeons and I am very glad to have them....
more
+1
Basal cell carcinoma on nose
Basal cell carcinoma can grow under the skin, and may not be very visible from the surface. The biopsy showed the presence of basal cell carcinoma cells, there are likely still cells there at the base of the biopsy. The purpose for performing Mohs micrographic surgery, is to take out a small amount of tissue, examine the margins to see if the tumor is still there, and if it is- go back and get more only in that microscpic area. The reconstruction is usually performed after the tumor is...
more
+1
Skin Cancer-Nose
Most likely there is residual Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCCA) left as a positive margin. This is why your doctor is recommending more surgery. May I suggest you request a copy of your pathology report to confirm that you still might have the BCCA ( Positive Margin). Further, this report will tell you what type of BCCA you have gotten.
There are basically 3 groups of BCCA commonly referred to by practitioners. Superficial BCCA is often a very superficial process easily managed....
more
Doctors will not see your comments on their answers. If you'd like to follow up, please go here to ask another question.
I love to see when people are so appreciative of the doctors who take their time to volunteer on RealSelf to answer our questions. I'm so glad the information he shared with you was helpful. :)