Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, with over 3.5 million new cases diagnosed every year. One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. In clinical dermatology, skin cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells.
It is essential to treat this growth before it invades surrounding tissue and spreads more extensively. Mohs surgery is one of the most effective treatments available today to address skin cancer.
Board certified dermatologists Dr. Tri H. Nguyen and Dr. George Hughes III provides state of the art skin care procedures to patients in Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and surrounding communities and neighborhoods in this part of the nation.
Different Types of Skin Cancer
Dr. Nguyen provides specialized treatment for the following types of skin cancer:
- Atypical Fibroxanthoma (AFX)
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
- Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP)
- Extramammary Paget’s Disease (CK7)
- Lentigo Maligna (LM)
- Lentigo Maligna Melanoma (LMM)
- Malignant Melanoma (MM)
- Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma (MAC)
- Squamous Cell Cancer (SCC)
Dr. Nugyen and his dermatology team will create a customized treatment plan according to the precise nature and extent of the skin cancer.
Mohs Surgery
The astute and cutting edge Dr. Nguyen completed his Mohs fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in 1998 and is a Fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery (FACMS). He has served on its Board of Directors and is working with the ACMS to establish national standards of excellence for all fellowship trained Mohs surgeons.
Mohs surgery can be performed in-office with the patient under local anesthesia. The procedure is completely safe and the patient can return home the same day. As a Mohs surgeon, Dr. Nguyen will perform the following integrated roles:
- Removal of the cancerous tissue
- Precise mapping of the tissue
- Careful evaluation of the margins under the microscope
- Repair or reconstruction of the wound after all margins are clear of cancer
Mohs Surgery Steps
Step 1
Following local anesthesia, the reliable and accomplished Dr. Nguyen will remove a thin tissue layer around and underneath the skin cancer. The procedure will only take a few minutes and a temporary dressing is placed.
Step 2
A microscopic exam of the cancer tissue is then performed by Dr. Nguyen. This is a time-intensive step and may consume around 30 to 60 minutes for thorough evaluation of all the margins.
Step 3
If more cancer cells are detected under the microscope, Dr. Nguyen will remove another tissue layer where the cancer roots are present, while saving healthy skin as far as possible.
Once clear margins are confirmed, a repair of the wound may be performed on the same day. Some activity restrictions will apply for at least a week.
Other Treatments
If a skin cancer does not require Mohs surgery, the surgeon may treat it with destruction techniques such as freezing, scraping or laser, or excision technique involving wider safety margins. In any case, recurrent or high risk cancers are best treated with Mohs surgery.
The solid, noteworthy, and board certified dermatologists Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Hughes receive patients from Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and other suburbs and neighborhoods in this incredible important state of Texas.
For more information on procedures and treatments offered at Texas Surgical Dermatology PA please call 832.663.6566 or click here to contact our dermatologists. Helping patients in Houston, The Woodlands, Springs, Katy and other surrounding areas of Texas.
