Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Skin Cancer

     Bay Area Skin Cancer Surgery and Dermatology, L.L.C.

Beatrice Jennifer Berkes, M.D.

About Our Practice

Board Certified Dermatologist, Harvard Fellowship Trained in Mohs Micrographic Surgery

¨ Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate of any skin cancer treatment (upwards of 98% based on data for primary basal cell and squamous cell treatment)

¨ It preserves the greatest amount of normal  tissue, thereby reducing the potential for scarring or disfigurement

¨ The Mohs technique is cost effective relative to other surgical options

¨ It is performed during a single, outpatient visit under local anesthetic

¨ Skin cancers on the head and neck,          particularly in high-risk areas (ears, lips,  nose, and eyelids)

¨ Tumors with poorly defined borders

¨ Tumors greater than 2 cm in diameter

¨ Recurrent or incompletely excised tumors

¨ Skin cancers demonstrating aggressive growth or pathology

Advantages of Mohs Surgery:

Indications for Mohs Micrographic Surgery:

    More than a million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, primarily due to exposure to ultraviolet light.  The cure rate depends on removal of all cancerous tissue.  Skin cancers are usually irregular in shape, and extend beyond the visible portion of the tumor.  In particular, skin cancers located around the eyes, ears, nose, and lips are often larger, deeper, and more aggressive than on other parts of the body.  Since these areas are also cosmetically and functionally important, any surgical treatment has the dual role of removing all of the cancer, while conserving as much of the normal tissue as possible.

     The Mohs technique is a specialized surgical procedure that offers the highest cure rate of any treatment for skin cancer, while preserving the greatest amount of normal tissue.  Pioneered by Dr. Frederick Mohs, it differs from traditional surgical methods by examining 100% of the undersurface and edges of the cancerous tissue at the time of removal.  Traditional surgical techniques are not able to examine 100% of the tissue, resulting in possible extensions of the tumor going undetected. 

     Mohs micrographic surgery is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthetic.  Dr. Berkes is specially trained in the Mohs procedure, and serves as the surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon.  The procedure is carried out in our state-of-the-art facility, including a fully equipped outpatient surgical center and pathology laboratory.

    The team of Dr. Berkes, nurses, technicians, and office staff is dedicated to your health and well-being.  We diagnose and treat a wide variety of skin disorders, and place a special emphasis on the prevention and treatment of skin cancer.