ABSTRACT
Treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) should completely remove the tumour whilst preserving the maximum amount of normal surrounding skin. Therefore, treatment is a compromise between safe excision margins and obtaining a satisfactory cosmetic result. We report the results of a prospective study of 63 patients who underwent excision of well-demarcated BCCs in the head and neck region. The surgical excision margin used was 2 mm. Histological assessment confirmed complete excision in 95% and there was no evidence of recurrence of the BCC over a 24-month follow-up period in all patients. We propose that a clinical excision margin of 2 mm is adequate for treatment of simple, well demarcated BCCs arising in the head and neck.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Basal Cell/surgery , Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Basal Cell/pathology , Female , Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective StudiesSubject(s)
Mammaplasty/methods , Mastectomy/rehabilitation , Nipples/surgery , Cicatrix/etiology , Cicatrix/surgery , Female , HumansABSTRACT
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome mainly affects males over 40 and is thought to occur as a result of soft tissue laxity in the buccal and pharyngeal musculature. It is associated with changes in blood oxygen saturation and may lead to pulmonary hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. Investigations should include routine haematological tests and, if possible, polysomnography. The main aim of therapy is to reverse as many risk factors as possible, i.e. alcohol consumption, obesity and smoking. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is a useful tool in treatment but patient compliance may be poor, so surgery may be indicated. The surgical intervention of choice is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, which is of most benefit to the patient with an upper airway laxity with an obstruction only at this level.