Dr. Jennifer Rullan and Dr. Jacqueline McKesey are both double board certified dermatologist, board certified in Mohs Micrographic Surgery. Dr. Peter Rullan has also been performing Mohs surgery for over 40 years. Our clinic performs Mohs surgery for skin cancers on Monday mornings. Our dermatologist work hard to provide the best healing and smallest scars possible in treating skin cancers. Our dermatologists are also members of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
OVERVIEW
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and involves abnormal growths of skin cells that can form anywhere on the body, but most frequently appear on skin that is exposed to the sun. There are more than a million new cases of skin cancer in the US each year. Although most cases of skin cancer can be successfully treated, it is still important to keep skin safe and healthy and try to prevent this disease.
There are three major types of skin cancer that affect associated layers of the skin. These major types are:
TREATMENTS
MOHS SURGERY
Developed by Frederic E. Mohs, M.D. in the 1930s, Mohs Micrographic Surgery for the removal of skin cancer is a highly precise, highly effective method that excises not only the visible tumor but also any “roots” that may have extended beneath the skin surface. Five-year cure rates have been demonstrated up to 99 percent for first-treatment cancers and 95 percent for recurring cancers.
Mohs surgery involves the systematic removal and microscopic analysis of thin layers of tissue at the tumor site until the last traces of the cancer have been eliminated. The immediate and complete microscopic examination and evaluation of excised tissue is what differentiates Mohs surgery from other cancer removal procedures. Only cancerous tissue is removed, minimizing both post-operative wound size and the chance of recurrence.
Mohs surgery is most commonly used for basal and squamous cell carcinomas, although it can be recommended for the eradication of other cancers such as melanoma. Cancers that are likely to recur or have already recurred are often treated using this technique because it is so thorough. High precision makes Mohs surgery ideal for the elimination of cancers in cosmetically and functionally critical areas such as the face (nose, eyelids, lips, hairline), hands, feet and genitals.
Mohs physicians are highly trained to function as surgeon, pathologist and reconstructive surgeon during the cancer removal process. They work in offices equipped with appropriate surgical and laboratory facilities, and are supported by Mohs-trained nursing and technical staff.
As with any surgery, there are risks. There may be temporary or permanent numbness or muscle weakness in the area. Other possible complications include tenderness, itching, shooting pains, and need for further surgery if skin flaps or grafts fail.
For more information, visit the American Society for Mohs Surgery
SECONDARY INTENTION HEALING – GELFOAM®
Gelfoam® sterile compressed sponge is a Pfizer product that is applied to an open wound to help bleeding subside more rapidly. This is particularly important in those cases when a wound needs to be left open rather than sutured closed. The Gelfoam material is inserted into the base of the wound, where it effectively promotes the formation of a blood clot. A sterile dressing will be placed over the wound to maintain the positioning of the Gelfoam sponge.
The majority of the Gelfoam material is safely absorbed in the wound. If there is any residual Gelfoam material found at the wound site, the doctor will remove it at an office visit.
