In conventional removal of skin cancer, the surgeon removes the tumor that is visible to the eye, removing at the same time, an area of healthy tissue around the cancer (from 4mm – 1cm, depending on the type of cancer), in order to maximize the chance of complete cancer removal, as the tumor is not processed at the same time, for examination. Therefore, conventional surgery is NOT tissue sparing. In contrast, in Mohs Surgery, skin cancer removal is performed by the Mohs surgeon, with the smallest possible removal of healthy tissue (1 – 2 mm only), around the cancer and it is tissue sparing.

In conventional surgery, the specimen is sent to the Pathology Laboratory, for histological examination. Both the surgeon and the patient, will have to wait for the results of the histological examination, which will confirm or not, the complete excision of cancer. This process, of specimen’s examination by another doctor, is time consuming and the results are available, over a period of 10 days to 1 month, depending on the laboratory and its workload. If the tumor is not completely removed, the patient should have further surgery, which becomes more difficult, as it is not always easy for the surgeon, to localize the area of residual cancer after the previous surgery (there is not a visible tumour anymore there).

Here, lies the second great difference of Mohs surgery. The microscopic examination of cancer, is performed by the Mohs surgeon, at the same time and day of the surgery and the report for the complete removal of the cancer, is given on the day of surgery, by the surgeon and not days or weeks later, by another doctor.

The second major difference of Mohs surgery, compared to conventional surgery, lies in the way the tissue is processed and examined histologically. In Mohs Surgery (horizontal sections), 100% of the tissue and all surfaces of the specimen (both the bottom and the lateral surgical margins) can be thoroughly examined, as opposed to conventional histological examination (vertical random sections) , at which a part (≈30%) of the tissue is examined at best.

• Proper and early diagnosis is the first and most important step for effective treatment. The methods we use in Derm & Plastic Surgery Clinic, due to state-of-the-art medical equipment, allow us to diagnose skin cancer accurately. In order to determine, the appropriate treatment plan for you, your full medical history should be taken and then a series of diagnostic examinations, most notably digital dermoscopy, should be carried out. With the help of a special program software and a high resolution camera, the area of skin cancer is examined in detail. A thorough screening of the rest of the body is following, to rule out the possibility of pre-cancerous lesions in other areas of the body.
• Dr Zografou performs hundreds of successful Mohs surgeries every year, for patients in Greece and abroad. The ability to perform the surgery under local anaesthesia, in the specially equipped surgical units, where the doctor operates (HYGEIA Hospital, Mediterraneo Hospital) allows the patient to return to his daily activities, from the very next day. The whole procedure, under local anaesthesia, is safer and has faster recovery, without requiring hospitalization!
• Once surgery has been completed, post-operative follow-up of our patients and digital dermoscopy is repeated at regular intervals (3, 6 and 12 months), which gives us a detailed control. Be certain that in Derm & Plastic Surgery Clinic, your skin will not be left to its fate after the surgery! Monitoring our patients is a commitment to us, as we take care to prevent further appearance of skin cancers, in our patients.
• The expertise of Dr. Zografou, in the field of Mohs Surgery, combined with her specialization, with Master (MSc) in Minimal Invasive and Robotic Surgery, guarantee you a professional and highly responsible approach, to your health problem. Dr. Zografou is the only certified Mohs surgeon in Greece (European Society of MOHS Surgery) and is one of the internationally recognized expert surgeons. She is invited every year to International Conferences, to teach other doctors and present the results of her surgeries.