title: Current concepts: the use of immunoperoxidase techniques in mohs micrographic surgery.
abstract: Mohs micrographic surgery is used for the removal of certain malignant tumors, both ensuring complete excision by histologic examination of margins as well as minimizing normal tissue loss. Recently, several investigators have incorporated the use of immunoperoxidase techniques to aid in the removal of selected high-risk carcinomas, sarcomas, and melanomas. We describe the basic principles of immunoperoxidase and review recent articles in which immunoperoxidase was used as an adjunct to routine hematoxylin-eosin staining in Mohs micrographic surgery. Additionally, we show examples of selected tumors comparing routine hematoxylin-eosin stains and immunoperoxidase. We believe the use of immunoperoxidase can be of significant value in the removal of certain high-risk tumors. In particular, this technique is useful in "unmasking" malignant cells in areas of dense inflammation, identification of some cases of perineural invasion, identification of pagetoid spread in carcinomas and melanomas, and finally in helping to identify subtle margins in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA 92134-1005, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mondragon
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery