Use of craniotomy hemostatic clips in the excision of large scalp tumors

Abstract

Slow Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is used for margin evaluation of skin tumors that are difficult to assess histologically on frozen sections. It is performed mainly for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, sebaceous carcinoma, and large lentigo maligna. Unlike conventional MMS, which can be performed intraoperatively, in slow MMS, the margins are processed as rush permanent sections on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. After tumor excision, the defect is left open until margin assessment is completed by the dermatopathologist, which may take several days.