Not all skin cancers need Mohs Micrographic surgery.  In General, routine excision is used for Melanomas located on any body part, including the head and neck. Excision is also commonly used for non- melanoma skin cancers ( Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma) that are located on the trunk and extremities. These are scenarios where Mohs surgery is often not indicated, and/or where tissue conservation is not as important. 

The site is excised and repaired without  any wait time in our office. The specimen is sent away to the  dermatopathology laboratory at Columbia University for processing and interpretation.  The pathology report turn around time is approximately one week.