Central Tumor Debulking in Mohs Micrographic Surgery

BACKGROUNDCentral tumor debulking typically precedes the initial stage in Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) to facilitate tissue flattening and optimize margin evaluation.

OBJECTIVEThis review evaluates technical variations in debulking regarding tactile feedback, artifacts, laboratory processing, efficiency, and vertical staging.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA structured search of MEDLINE and Scopus was conducted for literature published through June 2026.

RESULTSBlunt curettage provides tactile feedback but leaves residual tumor in 76.0% of cases, creates jagged edges, and increases the risk of floaters. Sharp scalpel excision preserves vertical architecture for vertical staging and identifying high-risk features. Tangential shaving is well suited for superficial tumors on convex-site contours. Ex vivo debulking avoids jagged edges on complex free-margin sites. Omitting debulking preserves architectural continuity throughout the lesion depth but predisposes the specimen to splaying and chattering artifacts as well as missing epidermal edges. Only 81.9% to 85.4% of Mohs surgeons routinely perform a debulk when treating melanoma in situ, despite clear consensus guidelines and established vertical upstaging rates ranging from 2.3% to 8.1%.

CONCLUSIONTechnical variations in debulking directly affect the final slide quality, processing efficiency, and staging accuracy. Tailoring the debulking modality to specific tumor histology and anatomic site is essential to optimize both surgical efficacy and laboratory workflow.

Abstract from PubMed