POLL: When Was Mohs First Developed?

"Skin cancer, like any other skin disease, isn't just one version that fits for one type of treatment, and so there are lots of options. I think it's important to remember we have a lot of innovations in the skin cancer space," said Orit Markowitz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of OptiSkin, at the 2023 Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) Annual Summer Dermatology Conference. Oritz presented "Innovative Skin Cancer Treatments: Beyond the Surgical Cut" at the annual SDPA meeting to review non-invasive options for skin cancer removal, including Mohs. Oritz discussed the benefits of non-invasive techniques for skin cancer treatment, including earlier intervention.

Frederic Mohs, a general surgeon at the University of Wisconsin, first developed the Mohs technique in the 1930s while he was studying injectable irritants to evaluate the live inflammatory response in transplantable rat cancers and normal tissue.¹

According to the American Society for Mohs Surgery, all US dermatology residency training programs are required to provide exposure to the Mohs technique. Second- and third-year residents also often receive more extensive, hands-on experience in the procedure.¹

Reference

1. History of Mohs surgery. American Society for Mohs Surgery. Accessed July 19, 2023. https://www.mohssurgery.org/about-asms/about-mohs-surgery/history-mohs-surgery/