Kishwer S. Nehal, MD

Director, Mohs Micrographic and Dermatologic Surgery

Pictured: Kishwer Nehal

I am a board-certified dermatologist with advanced fellowship training in cutaneous oncology, Mohs surgery, dermatologic surgery, and laser surgery. I specialize in the surgical treatment of early-stage melanoma and high risk non-melanoma skin cancers. I am the Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Mohs surgery is a specialized surgical technique with high cure rates for high risk skin cancers allowing precise removal of skin cancers while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.

In my clinical research I am studying noninvasive imaging techniques including confocal microscopy to improve early detection of skin cancers and expedite margin detection of skin cancers during skin surgery.

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Educating physicians and the public about the importance of early detection of skin cancer is important. To that end I direct Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s annual melanoma/skin cancer screening program. I participate in teaching residents in the field of cutaneous oncology and dermatologic surgery and serve as program director of the Procedural Dermatology/Mohs fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering/Weill Cornell Medical College.

I serve on the American Joint Committee on Cancer for staging of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network panel for nonmelanoma skin cancer practice guidelines. I am an invited lecturer at national and international dermatology meetings and an author of many of journal articles and book chapters. I am also a peer reviewer for medical journals, including Archives of Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery Journal, and Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Location

New York City

Phone

212-610-0782

Clinical Expertise

Early-stage Melanoma, Basal Cell, and Squamous Cell Carcinomas; Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers; Dermatologic Surgery; Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery; Laser Surgery

Languages Spoken

English

Education

MD, Boston University School of Medicine

Residencies

New York University Medical Center

Fellowships

New York University Medical Center

Board Certifications

Dermatology

See My Colleagues in:

Department of Medicine›Dermatology Service

Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Kishwer S. Nehal

Quality of Life Assessment in Breast Cancer Patients with Radiation-Induced Telangiectasias Treated with Pulsed Dye Laser

Publications by Kishwer S. Nehal

Visit PubMed for full listing of Kishwer S. Nehal journal articles

Pubmed is an online index of biomedical articles maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Related Multimedia See all »

Advances in Skin Cancer Treatment

Current Approaches to Finding and Preventing Skin Cancer

Approaches to Managing Melanoma

New Treatment Options for Advanced Melanoma

basal cell (BAY-sul sel)

A small, round cell found in the lower part (or base) of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cancer (KAN-ser)

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cancer screening

Clinical testing designed to identify the presence of a specific cancer in an asymptomatic individual or population thought to be at risk of that specific cancer. The intent is to find cancers at the earliest possible stage in their development, in order to improve the chances for disease cure.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cell (sel)

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

clinical (KLIH-nih-kul)

Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cure (kyoor)

To heal or restore health; a treatment to restore health.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cutaneous (kyoo-TAY-nee-us)

Having to do with the skin.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

dermatologist (der-muh-TAH-loh-jist)

A doctor who has special training to diagnose and treat skin problems.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

imaging (IH-muh-jing)

In medicine, a process that makes pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging uses methods such as x-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves), and radio waves.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

joint (joynt)

In medicine, the place where two or more bones are connected. Examples include the shoulder, elbow, knee, and jaw.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

laser (LAY-zer)

A device that forms light into intense, narrow beams that may be used to cut or destroy tissue, such as cancer tissue. It may also be used to reduce lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid in tissue) after breast cancer surgery. Lasers are used in microsurgery, photodynamic therapy, and many other procedures to diagnose and treat disease.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

laser surgery (LAY-zer SER-juh-ree)

A surgical procedure that uses the cutting power of a laser beam to make bloodless cuts in tissue or to remove a surface lesion such as a tumor.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

margin (MAR-jin)

The edge or border of the tissue removed in cancer surgery. The margin is described as negative or clean when the pathologist finds no cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has been removed. The margin is described as positive or involved when the pathologist finds cancer cells at the edge of the tissue, suggesting that all of the cancer has not been removed.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

medicine (MEH-dih-sin)

Refers to the practices and procedures used for the prevention, treatment, or relief of symptoms of a diseases or abnormal conditions. This term may also refer to a legal drug used for the same purpose.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

melanoma (MEH-luh-NOH-muh)

A form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

Mohs surgery (moze SER-juh-ree)

A surgical procedure used to treat skin cancer. Individual layers of cancer tissue are removed and examined under a microscope one at a time until all cancer tissue has been removed. Also called Mohs micrographic surgery.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

National Institutes of Health (NA-shuh-nul IN-stih-TOOTS … helth)

A federal agency in the U.S. that conducts biomedical research in its own laboratories; supports the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions throughout the country and abroad; helps in the training of research investigators; and fosters communication of medical information. Access the National Institutes of Health Web site at . Also called NIH.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

Network

A group of physicians, specialists, hospitals, outpatient centers, pharmacies, and other providers who has signed a contract with an insurance company to provide healthcare services to their subscribers.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

noninvasive (NON-in-VAY-siv)

In medicine, it describes a procedure that does not require inserting an instrument through the skin or into a body opening. In cancer, it describes disease that has not spread outside the tissue in which it began.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

nonmelanoma skin cancer (non-MEH-luh-NOH-muh skin KAN-ser)

Skin cancer that forms in the lower part of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) or in squamous cells, but not in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

oncology (on-KAH-loh-jee)

The study of cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

squamous cell (SKWAY-mus sel)

Flat cell that looks like a fish scale under a microscope. These cells cover inside and outside surfaces of the body. They are found in the tissues that form the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body (such as the bladder, kidney, and uterus), and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

staging (STAY-jing)

Performing exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially whether the disease has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. It is important to know the stage of the disease in order to plan the best treatment.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

surgery (SER-juh-ree)

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

tissue (TIH-shoo)

A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)