Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma: Mohs surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic medications.
Non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma) is the most common oncological pathology in the world, and in most cases, it is successfully treated on an outpatient basis. Melanoma, as a more aggressive form, is highlighted in a separate subcluster "Melanoma". This hub focuses on other types: from small basal cell carcinomas to complex squamous cell carcinomas of the face and scalp.
The key technique of the Ichilov (Sourasky) clinic for skin cancer of the head and face is Mohs micrographic surgery: the tumor is removed layer by layer with intraoperative histological control of each layer. This method provides a 97–99% complete removal rate with minimal loss of healthy skin, which is critical for aesthetic areas (eyelids, nose, ear, lips, forehead). The defect is immediately closed by a plastic surgeon using local skin flaps, free grafts, or complex reconstructions for deep defects.
In addition to Mohs surgery, the department employs standard excision with adequate margins (for small basal cell carcinomas on the trunk), radiotherapy (for inoperable cases or elderly patients), photodynamic therapy for superficial forms, targeted therapy (vismodegib, sonidegib for advanced basal cell carcinomas with Hedgehog pathway activation), and immunotherapy (cemiplimab) for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma.
This hub contains materials on the diagnosis of suspicious skin lesions, criteria for referral for biopsy, various removal methods, reconstruction of complex defects, and post-treatment monitoring — including the role of dermatoscopy in the early detection of recurrences.