Cancer treatments like Mohs surgery, excisional surgery, and cryosurgery are used to remove cancerous tissue. These surgical techniques offer different levels of precision to eliminate basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the two most common types of skin cancer. Here are six surgical treatments for cancer of the skin:
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Precision surgical margin mapping and tissue examination define Mohs micrographic surgery. Oncologists remove cancerous tissue one layer at a time, using a microscope to examine all the surgical margins until no cancerous cells remain. This mapping outlines the full skin and tissue affected by the cancer and spares the healthiest tissue possible. Mohs surgeons with advanced training minimize scarring by keeping surgical margins narrow.
Excisional Surgery
Excisional surgery removes lesions with a margin of skin. This surgery works well for early-stage cancers like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Interpretations of specimens align tissue removal, and full, cancer-free recoveries occur in high percentages of cases. The removed tissue is analyzed to confirm clear margins. Dermatologic surgeons can offer a combination of excisional surgery with another treatment, like cryosurgery, to achieve the healthiest outcome possible.
Cryosurgery Techniques
Cryosurgery is the application of liquid nitrogen to destroy cancerous tissue in the tissue. Topical cryogenic agents freeze tumors, halting cellular activity and damaging abnormal cells to disable the malignant portion. This technique treats small superficial tumors on sensitive areas like the lips or nose. Cryosurgery specializes in these more sensitive body areas by applying a controlled freezing technique that destroys cancerous lesions. Cryosurgery treats early-stage cancers from basal or squamous cells, which makes it an ideal treatment choice.
Curettage and Electrodessication
Curettage uses a sharp instrument called a curette to scrape away the tumor, while electrodesiccation destroys the remaining cancerous cells with an electrical current. This combination approach treats basal and squamous cell carcinoma by removing cancerous cells in thin layers until the entire tumor is gone. Local anesthesia assists curettage procedures, and harmless electrical pulses stop any bleeding from lesion scraping. Curettage and electrodesiccation can treat skin cancer located in areas of the body where scarring is less concerning.
Lymph Node Dissection
Surgical removal of cancer-afflicted lymph nodes is a more extreme treatment only recommended for patients with known metastatic melanoma. Lymph nodes distant from the primary tumor site are surgically removed and sent for pathology testing. Skin cancerous cells can be aggressive, requiring specialists whose surgical skills allow them to remove lymph nodes and surrounding tissue precisely. Thorough lymph node removal offers insight into whether cancer cells have traveled beyond the skin, signaling progression to other organs. Lymphatic mapping guides surgeons to affected nodes for removal.
Laser Surgery Applications
Certain wavelengths of laser light vaporize skin lesions by being absorbed into targeted chromophores containing abnormal cells. Laser energy destroys these cells by heating and disrupting their cellular structure. The precision of laser surgery leaves surrounding healthy tissue intact. The short amount of time this procedure takes may be the most attractive aspect of laser surgery, as treatments can take just a few minutes from start to finish.
Schedule a Skin Cancer Treatment Appointment Today
Prompt removal of suspicious skin lesions and laboratory analysis should confirm any cancerous cells before they expand deeper into the skin and nearby tissues. Early treatment may make a difference in resolving skin cancer and in the results of any reconstruction needs after cancer surgery. Contact an experienced dermatologist today if you have any concerns about cancer of the skin to learn more.