Operative Dermatology
Surgical treatment methods
Suspicious moles are excised, sometimes by shave excision, and sent to a dermatopathology laboratory for histological examination.
If there is suspicion of non-melanoma skin cancer (e.g., basal cell carcinoma, which practically never metastasizes but continues to grow in place), either a punch biopsy or shave excision is performed first to confirm the diagnosis, or, in the case of small lesions, a total excision is performed. If melanoma is suspected, the entire lesion is removed immediately.
Actinic keratoses (precursors of non-melanoma skin cancer), which are found primarily on the face and other sun-exposed areas, generally do not require surgery. We treat them using cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), laser therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and/or creams that destroy the abnormal cells, in part by stimulating the skin’s immune system.
