Large basal cell carcinoma defect closure on the lateral cheek using multiple advancement flaps / Cierre de defecto por carcinoma de células basales en la mejilla lateral usando múltiples flaps de avance

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). It grows slowly and very rarely metastasizes but can cause substantial morbidity due to its tendency to relapse and locally invasive nature, especially when located on the face. Excision surgery is still the gold standard treatment for primary BCC and is usually followed by reconstruction procedure. Skin flap techniques vary widely, one of which is flap advancement technique. The main benefit of flap advancement technique is the ability to hide the excision line, thus resulting in an aesthetically sound outcome. We report a case of 72-year-old female with hyperpigmented plaque brownish lump on the left lateral cheek. A diagnosis of igmented basal cell carcinoma had been confirmed through histopathological examination. The patient was treated with wide excision surgery and the defectwas closed by multiple advancement flaps. Follow-up after three months showed excellent cosmetic and functional outcome.

El carcinoma basocelular (CBC) es el tipo más común de cáncer de piel no melanoma. Crece lentamente y rara vez hace metástasis, pero puede causar una morbilidad sustancial debido a su ubicación en la cara, tendencia a la recidiva y su comportamiento invasivo local. La cirugía de escisión sigue siendo el tratamiento estándar de oro para el CBC primario y generalmente se acompañan de procedimientos reconstructivos. Las técnicas de flap varían ampliamente, una de las cuales es la técnica de avance del colgajo. El principal beneficio de la técnica de avance es la capacidad de ocultar la línea de escisión y, por lo tanto, se obtiene un resultado más estético. En este artículo reportamos el caso de una mujer de 72 años con placa hiperpigmentada y abultada en su mejilla lateral izquierda. Se había confirmado un diagnóstico de carcinoma de células basales pigmentadas mediante un examen histopatológico. El paciente fue tratado con una amplia cirugía de escisión y el defecto fue cerrado por múltiples colgajos de avance. El seguimiento después de tres meses mostró un excelente resultado cosmético y funcional.

Clinical Analysis of Serial (Staged) Excision for Congenital Melanocytic Nevi: A Single-center Experience / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Serial (staged) excision of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) is an important treatment option for medium-sized CMN. However, few studies have investigated the outcomes of serial excision in detail.OBJECTIVE: We report our experience regarding serial excision of CMN, including methods to effectively reduce the procedural stages and scar length.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with CMN treated between 2008 and 2015; 33 patients (7 men and 26 women) underwent serial excision.RESULTS: The CMN were located on the face (n=11), arms (n=6), legs (n=11), and other areas of the body (n=11), including the back (n=2), chest (n=1), deltoid region (n=1), and buttocks (n=1). The mean CMN area was 19.7 cm². The mean number of surgical stages was 2.2. The mean interval between surgeries was 10.6 months. A marginal S-shaped incision along both edges of the nevus was preferred over elliptical excision, to reduce scarring. Pulsed dye, erbium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (YAG), neodymium-doped:YAG, and carbon dioxide fractional lasers were used to improve the final outcomes and minimize scarring.CONCLUSION: Serial excision is an effective treatment option associated with greater patient satisfaction, particularly for medium-sized and hairy CMN. Conventional elliptical serial excision is associated with the formation of elongated scars and sacrifices normal skin adjacent to the lesion. The marginal S-shaped incision reduces scarring by dispersing mechanical tension on the scar without skin wastage. Compared with the elliptical excision method, the marginal S-shaped incision reduces the number of surgical stages and results in a cosmetically superior scar. Performing a marginal S-shaped incision is technically challenging in certain anatomical locations, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth. Therefore, it is necessary to combine this procedure with erbium:YAG and neodymium-doped:YAG ablation.

Complications and solutions in Mohs micrographic surgery: a retrospective analysis / Complicaciones y soluciones en cirugía micrográfica de Mohs: un análisis retrospectivo

Introducción: la cirugía micrográfica de Mohs es el gold standard para el tratamiento del cáncer de piel no melanoma. Ocasionalmente puede presentar complicaciones. Nuestro objetivo fue describir las complicaciones que observamos en nuestra Unidad de Cirugía Dermatológica y comparar nuestros resultados con otros estudios. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de todas las cirugías de Mohs realizadas en nuestro servicio entre noviembre 2013 y abril 2016. Los datos clínicos, tumorales y quirúrgicos representan aquellos disponibles en la historia clínica. Resultados: se realizaron 100 cirugías individuales en 71 pacientes;48 hombres y 23 mujeres. La edad promedio fue de 69.1 ± 1.7 años. El área del defecto promedio fue de 6.2 ± 0.9 cm2. Sólo se observaron 3 complicaciones (3%): necrosis de colgajo, hematoma con abultamiento de colgajo, y hemorragia postoperatoria. Todas se presentaron en pacientes diferentes, todas en fumadores activos y en región de cabeza y cuello. Discusión: las complicaciones son infrecuentes y suelen corresponder a infecciones del sitio quirúrgico, dehiscencia de suturas, hematoma/hemorragia o necrosis. Si bien el número de pacientes es limitado, nuestros resultados y la revisión de la literatura concuerda en su mayor parte. Destacamos que el tabaquismo activo representa un factor de riesgo para complicaciones. Conclusiones: la cirugía de Mohs tiene una incidencia baja de complicaciones, y la mayoría de estas son menores. Un conocimiento de sus modos de prevención y tratamiento es necesario para llevar a cabo este procedimiento.

Introduction: Mohs micrographic surgery is the gold standard for non-melanoma skin cancer treatment. It may occasionally present complications. Our objective was to describe the complications we observed in our Dermatologic Surgery Unit and compare our results with other studies. Materials and methods: we performed a retrospective analysis of all Mohs surgeries done in our service between November 2013 and April 2016. Clinical, tumoral and surgical data was gathered from the patients' medical history. Results: 100 individual surgeries in 71 patients were registered; 48 males and 23 females. Mean age was 69.1 ± 1.7 years. Mean defect area was 6.2 ± 0.9 cm2. Only 3 complications were seen (3%): flap necrosis, hematoma with flap bulging, and postoperative hemorrhage. All of these occurred in different patients, all of them in active smokers and in the head and neck region. Discussion: complications are infrequent and are usually surgical site infections, suture dehiscence, bleeding/hematoma or necrosis. Although our number of patients is limited, our results are mostly compatible with the literature. We highlight that active smoking represents a risk factor for complications. Conclusions: Mohs surgery has a low incidence of complications, and most of these are minor. A knowledge of prevention and treatment modalities is necessary to perform this procedure.

The Significance of Home Care Wound Management after Dermatologic Surgery / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: As the number of dermatologic surgical procedures increases, home care wound management is growing in frequency. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and surgical site infection rate of home care wound management according to the use of oral antibiotics and the characteristics of the wound and of the patient. METHODS: Our study included 207 patients that had undergone a dermatologic surgical procedure and the subsequent management of their wounds in the home. We checked overall infection rate of home care wound management and compared the result according to the use of oral antibiotics. We evaluated surgical site infection rate after we classified each surgical wound based on age, sex, surgical method, site, size, and depth. In addition, we surveyed efficacy of home care wound management. RESULTS: Overall surgical site infection rate was 1.86%, and the infection rate was not significantly different between the group that utilized home care wound management without oral antibiotics and the group with oral antibiotics (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference of surgical site infection rate according to sex, age, wound's size and depth (p>0.05). However, patients with younger age, male sex, greater size, and depth of wounds showed a numerical increase in surgical site infection rate. Staged partial excision for nevus sebaceous in scalp showed significantly higher rate of surgical site infection (p<0.05). In our survey, most patients preferred home care wound management after dermatologic surgical procedures and patients were able to perform the wound care well. CONCLUSION: We expect to utilize home care wound management after dermatologic surgical procedures, provided that physicians appropriately educate patients and their caretakers on proper dressings.

Colgajo de avance: doble triángulo de Burow. Una opción para cierres de defectos faciales / Burow’s triangle: on the options on facial defects

La dermatología quirúrgica requiere conocimientos anatómicos y técnicos por parte del dermatólogo, el cual dispone de diversas herramientas para el cierre de defectos posquirúrgicos. Dentro de éstas se encuentran los cierres primarios, colgajos, injertos y cierres por segunda intención. Nos referiremos en el presente trabajo al doble triángulo de Burow y sus indicaciones faciales, como parte de los colgajos de avance que resuelven de forma sencilla defectos posquirúrgicos.

Dermatologic surgery requires anatomical and technical knowledge from thedermatologist, having several options for post surgical closure. Among whichare: flaps, grafts, primary and secondary closure.In this paper we discuss Burow´s double triangle and its facial indications as partof the advancement flaps, which solves easily post-surgical defects.

Anticoagulantes y antiplaquetarios en cirugía dermatológica / Anticoagulants and antiplatelet in cutaneous surgery

Introducción: Un porcentaje importante de pacientes sometidos a cirugía cutánea están en tratamiento anticoagulante o antiplaquetario. Las cirugías cutáneas tienen bajo riesgo de sangrado, pero los tratamientos antitrombóticos podrían causar mayor riesgo, lo que ha llevado a los cirujanos dermatólogos a suspender estas terapias antes de la cirugía. Por otro lado, un inadecuado manejo de estas terapias puede tener graves consecuencias tromboembólicas. Objetivo: Establecer los riesgos y beneficios de continuar o suspender el tratamiento antitrombótico antes de una cirugía dermatológica, con el fin de establecer una conducta preoperatoria segura. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura médica bajo los términos anticoagulants, anticoagulation y anticoagulation therapy in dermatologic surgery o in cutaneous surgery. Se seleccionaron los 20 artículos que mejor respondían al objetivo del estudio, dando prioridad a los más recientes. Resultados: En los estudios analizados no se observó evidencia que sustente la suspensión de lo warfarina, clopidogrel o ácido acetilsalicilico antes de una cirugía cutánea, pero sí se reportan casos de complicaciones tromboembólicas asociadas a la suspensión de la terapia antitrombótica. No existe consenso respecto al valor del INR sobre el cual existe mayor riesgo de sangrado perioperatorio en la cirugía cutánea ni del mejor momento para controlarla. Conclusiones: La cirugía cutánea con anticoagulantes y antiplaquetarios es segura, pero la suspensión de estas terapias se puede asociar a complicaciones vasculares con riesgo vital. Sugerimos tomar un INR de control dentro de las 24 horas previos a la cirugía; en caso de valores mayores a 4, derivar al médico tratante para ajustar los niveles.

Introduction: A significant percentage of patients undergoing cutaneous surgery are on anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy. Cutaneous surgery are at low risk of bleeding but antithrombotic treatments may cause increased risk which has led to dermatologic surgeons to discontinue these therapies before surgery. Moreover, inadequate management of these therapies can have serious thromboembolic consequences Objective: To establish the risks and benefits to continue or suspend the therapy prior to a dermatologic surgery in order to have o reliable preoperative behavior. Materials and methods: A search was conducted by the authors on medical literature under the terms anticoagulants, anticoagulation and anticoagulation therapy in dermatologic surgery or in cutaneous surgery. A total of 20 articles were selected giving priority to the most recent ones. Results: In the studies reviewed there was no evidence to support the suspension of warfarin, clopidogrel or aspirin before skin surgery but reported cases of thromboembolic complications associated with the suspension of antithrombotic therapy were found. There is no consensus on the INR value related with increased risk of perioperative bleeding in cutaneous surgery or the best time to control it Conclusions: Perform o cutaneous surgery under anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatment is safe; the suspension of these therapies may be associated with life-threatening vascular complications. An INR control within 24 hours prior to surgery is suggested. In case of an INR over 4 o recommendation of control with the physician to adjust levels seem reasonable.

Carcinoma basocelular ulcerado frontal com acometimento superciliar: tratamento cirúrgico com retalho de avanço bilateral / Frontal basal cell carcinoma with superciliar aff ection: surgical treatment with bilateral advancement flap

Relatamos o caso de um paciente apresentando carcinoma basocelular nodular ulcerado de 3 cm de diâmetro na região frontal, à esquerda, atingindo a metade medial do supercílio. A lesão foi excisada e a reconstrução, realizada com retalhos de avanço em H. A região esquerda incluiu o restante do supercílio, sendo maior do que a contralateral. Assim, mantiveram-se a harmonia e a simetria das regiões superciliares e glabelar. As cicatrizes fi caram pouco perceptíveis por estarem posicionadas nas linhas de expressão. O paciente permanece sem lesões após dois anos de acompanhamento.

We report the case of a patient presenting a 3 cm diameter ulcerated nodular basal cell carcinoma in the frontal left region, reaching the medial half of the eyebrow. The lesion was excised and the reconstruction was carried out with advancement fl aps in H and the left included the rest of the eyebrow, being larger than the contralateral. Thus, the harmony and symmetry of the superciliary and glabellar regions were remained. The scars were visible just by being positioned in wrinkles rows. The patient remains without injuries after two years of monitoring.