ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An aggressive skin cancer on the nose, tends to have poorly defined clinical margins, and has a higher recurrence rate. A small tumor on the nose is usually easily treated by any of the standard methods. However, removal and reconstruction with preserved cosmesis is more laborous in a basal cell carcinoma larger than 10 mm in diameter. This is because the nose has complex contoures, unique skin color and texture, and the limited availability of mobile adjacent skin. When available Mohs micrographic surgery is the preferred treatment for these large tumors. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the preferred reconstruction method(especially, local flap reconstruction) by the cosmetic unit of the nose after Mohs micrographic surgery. METHODS: From March 1991 to February 1997, twenty-one patients were diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on the nose at our department. All the tumors were removed with Mohs micrographic surgery, and then the defects were reconstructed with a primary closure, skin graft, and local flap.