APPLICATION OF NASOLABIAL FLAP AND EAR CARTILAGE IN REPAIRING DEFECTS AFTER NASAL ALA BASAL CELL CARCINOMA RESECTION

Abstract

To investigate the effectiveness of nasolabial flap and ear cartilage in repairing defects after nasal ala basal cell carcinoma resection. Between January 2012 and August 2014, 8 patients with nasal ala basal cell carcinoma underwent tumor resection?and defect repair with nasolabial flap and ear cartilage. Among the 8 patients, 5 were male and 3 were female, with an average age of 65 years (range, 45-76 years). The left side and right side were involved in 3 cases and 5 cases respectively. Carcinoma confirmed by pathological examination in all patients. The time between first biopsy and resection was 7-14 days (mean, 10 days). The defect ranged from 1.5 cm×1.5 cm to 2.0 cm×1.5?cm after tumor resection, and the size of nasolabial flaps ranged from 4.0 cm×1.5 cm to 5.0 cm×2.0 cm. The operations of cutting off the pedicle and thinning skin flap were performed at 6 months after first operation. All flaps survived. Incisions healed by first intention, and no related complication occurred. No carcinoma recurred after cutting off the pedicle. All patients were followed up for 6 months. All patients were satisfied with the nasal contour, symmetrical projection of the alar dome, and no obvious scar. Nasolabial flap transfer and ear cartilage transplant method not only can repair the nasal ala defects, but also can avoid obvious scar and obtain good nasal ala contour profile. The shortcoming is that patients have to receive two operations.