Mohs fixed-tissue excision of dentoalveolar bone in canines: a histologic evaluation

Mohs surgery is a well-established surgical technique that involves conservative, microscopically guided excision of malignant lesions, thereby sparing the maximum amount of normal surrounding tissue. Current surgical therapy for oral cancer frequently involves resection with wide margins, resulting in significant cosmetic and functional deficits. This pilot study used the Mohs technique for in situ fixation and excision of maxillary and mandibular bone in mongrel dogs. Histologic examination of the excisional sites was carried out at 8 weeks to examine changes in the surrounding bone, periodontal ligament, and dental pulp of adjacent teeth. The findings suggest that zinc chloride fixative paste does not result in destruction of the dental pulp or surrounding dentoalveolar bone of teeth in the vicinity of a fixed-tissue excision. The Mohs fixed-tissue technique may allow preservation of oral structures that would otherwise be sacrificed in the presence of bony tumor involvement.