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EMPD/DFSP Treatment Specialist

Ali Hendi, MD Our Services EMPD/DFSP Treatment

Ali Hendi, MD

Skin Cancer Specialists & Mohs Surgeons located in Chevy Chase, MD

Rare cancers, like EMPD and DFSP, often go unnoticed until they spread deeper into your skin. To slow down and treat such skin cancers, skin cancer specialist Ali Hendi, MD, offers on-site Mohs micrographic surgeries on an outpatient basis at his Chevy Chase, Maryland, surgery center. Dr. Hendi is skilled in diagnosing skin changes that can lead to cancer and can customize your surgical treatment to reduce the likelihood cancer will return. We proudly serve the Washington, DC/DMV and the surrounding areas including: Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, Potomac, PG County, Baltimore County, Arlington, Mclean, Tysons Corner, Vienna, Chantilly, Alexandria, and Fairfax. Learn more about Mohs micrographic surgery as an EMPD/DFSP treatment by calling Dr. Hendi’s office for requesting a diagnostic evaluation today.

EMPD/DFSP Treatment

What are EMPD and DFSP?

Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) is a slow-growing, rare type of skin cancer that typically develops around your genitals, groin, and in the anal region. EMPD begins growing on the surface of the skin and slowly begins to travel into the deeper layers of your skin.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is another type of rare skin cancer that develops in the deeper layers of your skin, especially in the torso, legs, arms, and neck. DFSP may start as a small area of firm skin that appears depressed or discolored. Tumors can be red, purple, or flesh-colored and will grow slowly over several months or years.

Because both of these types of skin cancer are so rare, they often go undiagnosed until the condition progresses. Dr. Hendi is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating EMPD and DFSP.

How are EMPD and DFSP diagnosed?

Because symptoms of both EMPD and DFSP can be slow to develop and go unnoticed, skin cancer is often discovered only when the condition has advanced. However, if you have any unusual symptoms or changes anywhere on your skin, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with Dr. Hendi.

There are no standard tests available for EMPD, so Dr. Hendi relies on a visual exam of the area and a biopsy of skin tissue.

Diagnosing DFSP requires a biopsy to analyze unusual patches of skin. You may also need an MRI to determine how far the tumor has grown into the skin.

How are EMPD and DFSP treated?

Treatment for both EMPD and DFSP skin cancers requires Mohs micrographic surgery. Dr. Hendi performs this type of surgery on-site in his outpatient surgical clinic.

Mohs micrographic surgery involves removing one layer of the affected skin at a time. Throughout the procedure, as Dr. Hendi removes layers of skin, he evaluates them under a microscope to identify the presence of cancer cells. He continues removing layers until no signs of cancer are present in the skin.

While there is a chance that EMPD cancer cells will return following surgery, Mohs micrographic surgery dramatically reduces the risk that DFSP cancer will come back.

If you have concerns about suspicious changes in your skin, don’t delay an evaluation. Call Dr. Hendi’s office today.

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