What a Mohs Surgeon sees under the Microscope

If you have ever wondered what a Mohs surgeon looks for under a microscope, here’s a preview. The American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) fellowship program ensures that each Mohs surgeon is trained to a high level. Distinguishing between normal and abnormal cells may be a challenge.

Here are some examples:

Basal cell carcinomas

Basal cell carcinomas are the most common type of skin cancer in New Zealand. While there are numerous subtypes of basal cell carcinoma, there are two key, common types:

Nodular basal cell carcinoma

Notice how subtle the tumour can be.

The following picture is of a benign hair follicle tumour called a tumour of follicular infundibulum. It takes a sharp eye to pick out the difference!

Infiltrative basal cell carcinoma

This sub-type of basal cell carcinoma is known for its strands that look like tongues. This is an aggressive form of basal cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are an aggressive form of skin cancer that has the potential to metastasize (spread to other areas of the body). It is characterised by pleomorphic cells (variability in the size, shape, and texture of cells) which are eosinophilic (pink).

Experience Matters

It takes practice to be good at picking out a tumour under the microscope. Experience matters. At Skintel your surgeon has had thousands of hours of training equating to viewing more than 10,000 slides and counting!