Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for Tumour Margin Mapping
Mohs surgery is considered the most effective technique for treating many basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). This procedure comprises making a series of small surgical excisions (or “stages”) until the tissue has been found to be fully clear of tumour at the edges, ensuring the whole tumour has been removed. However, Mohs surgery is very time-consuming and resource intensive due to the need to repeat Stages multiple times. This may also generate significant anxiety for the patient.
Studies have shown that when Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), is used to map the tumour extent prior to Mohs surgery, the number of tumours requiring more than one surgery stage was reduced by over 70%.
Reduced treatment time is a win-win:
- Less time spent in clinic by the patient
- More patients may be treated each day by the dermatologist.
To learn more about the use of OCT in Mohs surgery, download your up-to-date Reference List of published work
Basal Cell Carcinoma, BCC
Basal Cell Carcinoma, BCC, is the most common form of skin cancer with 3.6 million cases in the USA alone diagnosed every year. In the UK, approximately 75% of diagnosed skin cancers are BCC.
