Melanoma of the ear: treatment and survival probabilities based on 199 patients.

BACKGROUND: In 2005, it is now estimated that one in 62 Americans have a lifetime risk of developing invasive melanoma. Melanoma of the ear accounts for 1% of all cases of melanoma and 14.5% of all head and neck melanomas. With this increase in incidence, plastic surgeons will likely have to treat and manage more of these patients in the future. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 199 patients diagnosed with primary melanoma of the ear. Specimens were reviewed by same center dermatopathologists (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC) for standardization of histologic criteria in all but 10 patients. Surgical treatment and outcomes were reviewed and survival rates based on thickness and stage were calculated. Metastases information, anatomic location on the ear, and histologic subtype were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The median length of follow up was 3.3 years with a range of 0.4 to 24.9 years. Eighty-six patients were known to be dead at the last known follow-up date. The median survival time among these patients was 7.9 years. The most common histologic classification of the lesions were superficial spreading type (45.2%) and were most likely to be localized to the anterior helix (49.3%). One hundred sixty-one of 199 (80.9%) patients underwent wide local excision with local recurrence rate of 10.6%. Overall, 43.2% of patients developed a local recurrence or metastatic spread. Ulceration, thickness, and stage all negatively affected survival. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest review of primary ear melanoma cases reported to date. Survival probabilities at 2, 5, and 10 years for melanoma of the ear based on thickness and stage are presented. Ulceration adversely affected survival probability (P < 0.003). Lesion excision with confirmed negative margins on permanent section pathology should be the goal of initial surgical therapy, and there is no apparent role for elective lymph node dissection in treatment of melanoma of the ear.

Effect of the Veterans Affairs Medical System on plastic surgery residency training.

BACKGROUND: Teaching hospitals within the Veterans Affairs Health System perform the majority of complex and high-risk surgical procedures in the veteran patient population. Residency positions in the Veterans Affairs Medical System are usually part of a rotational educational system within a university-based residency, and plastic surgeons in training are a major work force and health care provider. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current effect of the Veterans Affairs Medical System on plastic surgery residency training. METHODS: A 6-year (January of 1998 to December of 2003) review was performed of procedures completed at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Section of Plastic Surgery. Procedures were divided into the following categories: extremities and trunk; breast and cosmetic; head and neck, including excision of skin lesions; hand surgery; craniomaxillofacial surgery; and other. Only procedures performed in the main operating room were reviewed and analyzed. In addition, a detailed review was performed of major head and neck reconstructions with free tissue transfer. RESULTS: A total of 1655 operative procedures were performed in 1290 patients. The ratio of men to women was 6:1 (1112 men and 178 women). Patients ranged in age from 26 to 97 years (average age, 62.7 years). Procedures in the extremities and trunk (n = 193, 11.7 percent), breast and cosmetic (n = 228, 13.8 percent), hand surgery (n = 155, 9.4 percent), and other (n = 275, 16.6 percent) categories were comparably distributed. Although the head and neck category accounted for the highest number of procedures (n = 766, 46.3 percent), the majority of these procedures were simple excisions of skin tumors (n = 612). There were significantly fewer major craniomaxillofacial cases (n = 38, 2.3 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Data from the retrospective analysis reveal that a broad spectrum of plastic surgical procedures is performed within the Veterans Affairs Health System, serving as a tremendous resource for resident training. The fact that approximately 260 procedures per year are performed demonstrates an active service. Craniomaxillofacial surgery is currently underrepresented compared with other categories at the authors' particular institution. By their definition, nonspecific plastic surgical procedures ("other") account for 275 (16.6 percent) of all 1655 procedures performed. This demonstrates that plastic surgery "overlaps" with other specialties, such as dermatology. The Veterans Affairs Health System will continue to play a significant role in the future training of plastic surgeons. Now, more than ever, a strong Veterans Affairs surgical service, including plastic surgery and its modern techniques, will be needed.

Use of suture anchors in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects with pedicled muscle flaps.

Suture anchors have been commercially developed to facilitate stable attachment of soft tissues to bone. Although their use is well characterized in orthopedic literature, suture anchors may also be of benefit in the reconstruction of large soft tissue defects by plastic surgeons. Suture anchors (Mitek Surgical Products, Inc., Westwood, MA) were used to fasten pedicled muscle flaps to exposed bone in 7 patients at Duke University undergoing reconstruction of large soft tissue defects. The suture anchor appeared to provide stability for the advancement flap, and there were no suspected postoperative muscle dehiscences or suture breakages. The suture anchor provides an easy, secure method to attach soft tissue to exposed bone, and preliminary experience appears to support their use in certain soft tissue reconstruction procedures by plastic surgeons. Suture anchors should be reserved for cases in which a large muscle flap is needed to cover exposed bone and poses a risk of shearing away from the bone, or adequate periosteum and soft tissue is not available for standard suture techniques.