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Send us your comments"Just a note to thank you for your care during my recent surgery. Dr Lawrence, a special thank you for bringing my surgery forward so that I can visit my son in New Zealand - it is much appreciated".
Useful websites
Jargon buster
biopsy
A simple method of taking a small sample of tissue for analysis under a microscope to help diagnose a range of conditions. Find out more about biopsies at NHS Choices.
View the full jargon busterDermatology Services (conditions of the skin)
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Mohs Micrographic Surgery is an innovative and highly successful treatment for skin cancer. It has the highest cure rate of all treatments for skin cancer - up to 99% even when other forms of treatment have failed.
The Royal Victoria Infirmary is currently the only hospital in the North East which offers this service.
What is different about Mohs surgery?
Through using highly sensitive microscopic equipment, our expertly trained and experienced dermatologists can see beneath the visible disease. The exact location of the cancer cells is pinpointed using a special mapping technique, and the tumour removed down to its roots. The process is repeated until your dermatologist is satisfied that no cancer cells remain.
What are the advantages of Mohs surgery?
The main advantages of Mohs are its high cure rate and the removal of tissue only where cancer cells are present. This means that the surrounding healthy tissue remains unharmed and reduces the risk of scarring or skin disfigurement. The treatment also minimizes the chance of regrowth.
This unique technique is particularly suited for areas where preserving as much normal tissue as possible is extremely important, such as tumours around the eyes, nose, lips and ears. This is particularly important for our younger patients.
