Excision Of Basal Cell Carcinoma Research Articles

Utility of Keystone Flap in Armory of Dermatosurgeons

Abstract Purpose and Background: To create awareness among dermatosurgeons about the versality of keystone flaps in re-surfacing post-excisional small, medium and large skin defects. Aims and Objectives: Single-staged tension free re-surfacing of various sized skin defects using keystone flap and to have least donor site morbidity, primary healing and maximum functional outcome. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted, between October 2021 – January 2023 in Department of Plastic Surgery, PGIMS Rohtak, on 15 males and 1 female aged between 18 - 65 years. Sixteen Keystone flaps (type IIA n=13, Omega cum Sydney melanoma unit modification n=3) were utilized for resurfacing skin defects arising after excision of basal cell carcinoma (n=3) and benign hairy nevus (n=2) on cheek, basal cell carcinoma forehead (n=1), electric burns on deltoid (n=2), giant neurofibroma back (n=1), tattoo forearm (n=3), chronic non-specific granuloma thumb (n=2) and pilonidal sinus disease (n=2). Skin with maximum expansibility was chosen as donor site with utmost care of facial lines and its aesthetic subunits. Flaps were dissected all around preserving maximum number of hand-held doppler-identified perforators in pedicular area. Sutures were removed on 10th to 15th post-operative day. Follow-ups ranged from 2 to 15 months. Results: None had wound dehiscence or loss of flap. Conclusion: Keystone flaps have defect-adaptive design, simple bio-geometry, technical simplicity, decreased downtime, cost effectivity and efficiency and can be designed to resurface post-excisional skin defect from head to toe with acceptable results, therefore should strongly be considered by dermatosurgeons while excising skin lesions.

Clinical Characteristics of Local Recurrent Basal Cell Carcinoma After Surgical Excision: A Retrospective Study of the Patients From a Tertiary Clinical Center.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent form of skin cancer. The etiology of recurrent BCC is multifactorial, and the recurrence rate is variable. The aim of the study was to identify the risk factors of local recurrence after surgical excision in primary BCC. In our study, 934 patients histopathological diagnosed with BCCs between January 2017 and June 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Among these, patients who were regularly followed up for at least three years were included in the study. Patients who underwent non-excision treatment were excluded. Allthe patients who had pathologically confirmed, surgically excised BCCs with safety margins and those with a clinicopathological diagnosis of recurrent BCCs. Demographic and clinical features of 78 patients with non-recurrent primary BCC and 55 patients with local recurrent BCC were compared. The mean age was 69.7±11.7 years. The gender distribution was M/F:1.3. The time from diagnosis to total surgical excision was 2.3±1.4 months, and the time of recurrence was 27.5±23.3 months. The age of the patients, the time from diagnosis to total excision, the lesion size > 2 cm, and the presence of risk factors (such as radiotherapy, malignancy, and immunosuppression) were higher in the recurrent group than in the non-recurrent group (p < 0.05). Location (high/medium/low-risk area) and the presence of multiple lesions did not differ significantly between the recurrent and non-recurrent groups. In patients with BCC, recurrence is often detected in the first three years after diagnosis. Our study determined age, lesion size, accompanying risk factors, and the length of time until total excision as risk factors for recurrence in BCC patients. The histological subtype and lesion localization did not differ between the group with and without recurrence.

Margin status of basal cell carcinoma: What can be done better?

PurposeGuidelines on clinical margins for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) excisions were recently published, yet ambiguity remains for surgeons and pathologists. The purpose of this study was to determine the incomplete excision rate of BCC, determine factors associated with incomplete excision, and evaluate completeness of reporting between surgeon and pathologist. MethodsA single-centre retrospective analysis was conducted on pathology reports from single excisions of BCC specimens, between January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was incomplete excision rate (positive margins) as reported by pathologist. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between incomplete excision rate and anatomical location, pathologist, and surgeon. Completeness of surgeon pathology requisition forms was evaluated qualitatively. ResultsSeven-hundred-and-fifty-six pathology reports were included. The incomplete excision rate was 12% (n=94). The most common site of incomplete excision was head and neck (n=87, 15%), followed by trunk (n=5, 7%), and extremities (n=2, 2%). Five-hundred-and-seventy-nine specimens from 6 surgeons and 9 pathologists were included in the logistic regression analysis. Wald test showed location was significantly associated with incomplete excision (p<0.05), whereas surgeon and pathologist reports were not (p>0.05). Regarding missing information, only 47 (6%) pathology reports included “excision” in the requisition. Four-hundred-and-three (53%) specimens had no clinical history. ConclusionsThe incomplete excision rate found in this study falls within the report range in the literature. Neither surgeon nor pathologist had significant association with incomplete excision. Incomplete excision rate of BCC may be inflated due to lack of standardization in requisition form reporting and pathology reporting.

Acellular Fish Skin Grafts for Treatment of Periocular Skin Defects.

To describe the outcomes of acellular fish skin grafts for repair of periocular anterior lamella skin defects after Mohs surgery for skin cancers. Following the institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective chart review of patients treated with acellular fish skin grafts between January 2022 and December 2023. Indication was to repair defects after Mohs excision of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Demographics, smoking and diabetes status, diagnosis, defect location, graft size, and complications were evaluated. Outcomes were analyzed using the scar cosmesis assessment and rating scale. Six patients (3 females and 3 males) with a mean age of 60.8 (range 44-80) had Mohs surgery for basal cell carcinoma (4) and squamous cell carcinoma (2). Location of defects included eyebrow (3 cases), lateral nasal wall (1 case), lower eyelid (1 case), and medial lower eyelid/nasal wall (1 case). Defect size ranged from 8 × 10 mm to 30 × 40 mm. Two patients had more than 1 application of xenograft. One patient developed a mild cicatricial ectropion. No other postoperative complications were seen, and all had good wound healing and cosmetically acceptable results. In this pilot study, acellular fish skin xenografts are shown to be promising skin graft substitutes in patients with Mohs defects and decrease the need for autologous skin harvesting or allogenic skin donation.

Diagnostic accuracy of autofluorescence-Raman microspectroscopy for surgical margin assessment during Mohs micrographic surgery of basal cell carcinoma.

Autofluorescence (AF)-Raman microspectroscopy is a technology that can detect residual basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on the resection margin of fresh, surgically excised tissue specimens. The technology does not require tissue fixation, staining, labelling or sectioning, and provides quantitative diagnosis maps of the surgical margins in 30 min. To determine the accuracy of the AF-Raman instrument in detecting incomplete BCC excisions during Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), using histology as the reference standard. Skin layers from 130 patients undergoing MMS at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (September 2022-July 2023) were investigated with the AF-Raman instrument. The layers were measured when fresh, immediately after excision. The AF-Raman results and the intraoperative assessment by Mohs surgeons were compared with a postoperative consensus-derived reference produced by three dermatopathologists. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03482622). AF-Raman analysis was successfully completed for 125 of 130 layers and, on average, covered 91% of the specimen surface area, with the lowest surface area covered being 87% for the eyelid and the highest being 94% for forehead specimens. The AF-Raman instrument identified positive margins in 24 of 36 BCC-positive cases [67% sensitivity, 95% confidence interval (CI) 49-82] and negative margins in 65 of 89 BCC-negative cases (73% specificity, 95% CI 63-82). Only one of 12 false-negative cases was caused by misclassification by the AF-Raman algorithm. The other 11 false-negatives cases were a result of no valid Raman signal being recorded at the location of the residual BCC due to either occlusion by blood or poor contact between tissue and the cassette window. The intraoperative diagnosis by Mohs surgeons identified positive margins in 31 of 36 BCC-positive cases (86% sensitivity, 95% CI 70-95) and negative margins in 79 of 89 BCC-negative cases (89% specificity, 95% CI 81-95). The AF-Raman instrument has the potential to provide intraoperative microscopic assessment of surgical margins in BCC surgery. Further improvements are required for tissue processing, to ensure complete coverage of the surgical specimens.

Age group-specific changes in keratinocyte cancer treatment rates in Australia, 2012-2021: a retrospective cohort study based on MBS claims data.

To examine recent changes in the numbers of Medicare-subsidised keratinocyte cancer excisions, particularly for younger people exposed to primary prevention campaigns since the early 1980s. Retrospective cohort study; analysis of administrative data. Analysis of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) claims data for procedures related to the diagnosis and treatment of keratinocyte cancer in Australia, 2012-2021. Age-standardised rates for MBS-subsidised claims for first surgical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) excisions, Mohs surgery, surgical excisions of benign lesions, skin biopsies, and cryotherapy or serial curettage of premalignant and malignant lesions, overall, and by sex, state/territory, and age group; average annual percentage change in rate for time intervals determined by joinpoint regression. In men, the age-standardised rate of BCC/SCC excisions increased by 1.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-2.4%) per year during 2012-2019 (from 2931 to 3371 per 100 000 men) and then declined by 3.8% (95% CI, 0.5-7.0%) per year during 2019-2021 (to 3152 per 100 000). In women, the age-standardised rate increased by 2.2% (95% CI, 1.7-2.8%) per year during 2012-2019 (from 1798 to 2093 per 100 000 women); the decline to 1967 excisions per 100 000 women in 2021 was not statistically significant. BCC/SCC excision rates declined for men under 55 years of age (by 1.0-3.4% per year) and women under 45 years of age (by 1.7-2.3% per year). Age-standardised biopsy rates increased during 2012-2021 in all age groups (by 2.8-6.9% per year). Rates of MBS-subsidised treatment for keratinocyte cancers increased during 2012-2019, but BCC/SCC treatment rates declined among younger Australians, who have probably been exposed to less sunlight than earlier generations because of public health interventions and population-wide lifestyle changes related to technology use.

[Artículo traducido] Revisión del rol de la cirugía micrográfica con cortes en parafina en el tratamiento de tumores cutáneos

Paraffin-embedded margin-controlled Mohs micrographic surgery (PMMS) includes various procedures such as slow Mohs or deferred Mohs technique, the Muffin and Tübingen techniques, and staged margin excision, or the spaghetti technique. PMMS is a variation of conventional Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) that allows histopathological examination with delayed margin control. PMMS requires minimum training and may be adopted by any hospital. The setback is that PMMS can require procedures across multiple days. PMMS lowers the rate of recurrence of basal cell carcinoma vs wide local excision in high-risk basal cell carcinoma, and improves the rates of recurrence and survival in lentigo maligna. PMMS can be very useful in high-risk squamous cell carcinoma treatment. Finally, it is a promising technique to treat infrequent skin neoplasms, such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, or extramammary Paget's disease, among others. In this article, we present a literature narrative review on PMMS, describing techniques and indications, and highlighting long-term outcomes.

Aesthetic Palpebral Reconstruction Following the Excision of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin malignancy, and when considering its predilection for the face – it is most commonly found on the eyelids. CASE PRESENTATION: In our patient’s case, the BCC was located on the left lower eyelid exemplifying the classic macroscopic appearance of a nodular basalioma. We took into account all of the patient’s variables (particularly the lesion’s difficult location) to choose the best surgical approach for excision of the tumor, as well as the reconstructive strategy that would result in the most functional and aesthetic outcome. CONCLUSION: In this report, we present a case of our patient with BCC on the lower eyelid, our surgical method for excision and palpebral reconstruction using an autologous auricular cartilage graft, and the final outcome, which we consider was the best option for the patient in question.

Reconstruction of Full-Thickness Eyelid Defects Following Tumor Resection: The Bucket Handle Modification.

To describe a modified approach for full-thickness lower eyelid defect reconstruction. This is a retrospective review of 5 patients with large full-thickness lower eyelid defects after tumor resection requiring reconstruction. For these lower eyelid defects, a lateral-based or superior-based tarsoconjunctival pedicle flap from the upper eyelid was used to rebuild the posterior lamella. In all cases, the anterior lamella was supplied from an adjacent myocutaneous flap in a bucket handle configuration. Data collection included tumor type and location, size of eyelid defect, presence of canalicular involvement, postoperative eyelid position, patient satisfaction, and complication rates. Five eyelids of 5 patients underwent Mohs micrographic excision of basal cell carcinoma followed by reconstruction with a bucket handle flap. Age range was 68 to 96 years old (mean of 81y). Five patients presented with lower eyelid involvement. The defect size ranged from 80% to 100% of the eyelid. Three patients had canalicular involvement and required bicanalicular nasolacrimal stent placement. After reconstruction, all patients showed good eyelid apposition to the globe with excellent esthetic outcome. No revision procedures were done. Average follow-up time was 13 months (range of 8 to 21mo). The bucket handle flap for full-thickness eyelid reconstruction is a simple technique that allows for preservation of all anatomical layers of the anterior lamella. This technique shows promising functional and esthetic outcomes.

Long-term results after surgical basal cell carcinoma excision in the eyelid region: revisited.

The aim of the study was to readdress basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the periocular region to prove the efficacy of histologically controlled surgical treatment and to identify high-risk characteristics.Retrospective analysis of 451 microscopically controlled BCC excisions in the periocular region. Tumor location, tumor size, AJCC 7 classification, and histological results were recorded. The same procedure was followed for recurrences.Arecurrence rate of 5.0% was observed after the first microscopically controlled excision. Recurrent BCCs show ashift from nodular to sclerosing BCC as the primary histological type as well as achange in primary location from lower eyelid to medial canthus. The frequency of BCC with deep extension increased from 7.3% to 24.7%, and 57.1% after the second and third operations, respectively. The recurrence rate increased to 9.5% and 42.9%, after the second and third operations, respectively.In conclusion, we are facing the same challenges in surgical BCC treatment as 30years ago. The distribution of periocular BCC location, histologic subtype and recurrence rates mirror the literature und the general consensus. The recurrence rate increases with every operation needed. Sclerosing BCCs with deep extension at the medial canthus bear the greatest risk for recurrence. In such cases, centers of expertise should be consulted and additional treatment options should be considered.

Review on the Role of Paraffin-embedded Margin-controlled Mohs Micrographic Surgery to Treat Skin Tumors

Paraffin-embedded margin-controlled Mohs micrographic surgery (PMMS) includes various procedures such as slow Mohs or deferred Mohs technique, the Muffin and Tübingen techniques, and staged margin excision, or the spaghetti technique. PMMS is a variation of conventional Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) that allows histopathological examination with delayed margin control. PMMS requires minimum training and may be adopted by any hospital. The setback is that PMMS can require procedures across multiple days. PMMS lowers the rate of recurrence of basal cell carcinoma vs wide local excision in high-risk basal cell carcinoma, and improves the rates of recurrence and survival in lentigo maligna. PMMS can be very useful in high-risk squamous cell carcinoma treatment. Finally, it is a promising technique to treat infrequent skin neoplasms, such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, or extramammary Paget's disease, among others. In this article, we present a literature narrative review on PMMS, describing techniques and indications, and highlighting long-term outcomes.

Trapdoor Deformity Correction Post Nasal Bilobed Flaps for Basal Cell Carcinoma Reconstruction With Multiple Laser Modalities.

In case of excision of nasal basal cell carcinoma (BCC), bilobed flaps are considered the criterion standard of reconstruction for defect less than 15 mm in size. However, there is still a risk of trapdoor deformity formation, of which its treatment is less discussed. A 44-year-old woman who was diagnosed with nasal BCC and underwent tumor excision with bilobed flap reconstruction presented with trapdoor deformity postoperatively. The computed Vancouver Scar Scale was 7. After early intervention of multiple laser modalities, including 2 sessions of 585-nm pulsed dye laser with a fluence of 9 J/cm2, pulse duration of 6 milliseconds, and spot size of 6 mm, 2940-nm Er-yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser with a pulse energy of 800-900 mJ, repetition rate of 8-9 Hz, and laser spot size of 3-7 mm, and 5 sessions of 1064-nm Nd:YAG fractional picosecond laser with a pulse energy of 2.30-2.70 mJ, repetition rate of 8 Hz, and laser spot size of 6 mm from 5 to 23 weeks postoperatively, the Vancouver Scar Scale score improved to 1, with significant reduction of trapdoor scar erythema and puffiness. Although BCC is often curable, tumor excision causes unsatisfactory appearance satisfaction problem, owing to the apparent location of the lesion. Factors, such as sebaceous tissue thickness, reconstruction over multiple aesthetic subunits of nose, and damage to nasal cartilage framework structure during tumor removal, may increase the risk of trapdoor formation. Early intervention with multiple laser treatment can significantly revise the deformity.

A Retrospective Study of Patient Outcomes Following Involved or Close Margin Basal Cell Carcinoma Excision.

A Retrospective Study of Patient Outcomes Following Involved or Close Margin Basal Cell Carcinoma Excision.

Management of Nodular Nasal Basal Cell Carcinoma with Wide Excision, Transpositional Median Forehead Flap, Forehead Split Thickness Skin Graft: Case Report

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin type cancer with an incidence rate of around 75-80%. The most common location is in the head and neck area around 70-80% and followed by other body parts around 25% consist of the penis, vulva or perianal area and 5% on the skin. BCC occurs more frequently in light-skinned individuals compared to dark-skinned individuals. The incidence rate is relatively lower in Asians, blacks ethnic, and Hispanics.&#x0D; Case Presentation: A 66 years-old woman complained of scabs on the right side of her nose which had become increasingly widespread for the past 2 years. The wound was initially the size of a mole and was scratched until it spread until the patient was hospitalized. Physical examination showed a wound in the nasal area measuring 4 x 5 x 1 cm, irregular wound edges, cartilaginous wound base with necrotic tissue and pus. The first biopsy examination showed poorly differentiated basal cell carcinoma. The patient was treated with Nasal Reconstruction surgery consisting of wide excision was performed by surgical oncologist, transpositional median forehead Flap and forehead Split Thickness Skin Graft were performed by reconstructive plastic surgeon.&#x0D; Discussion: The diagnosis of BCC in this patient was based on regarding history taking, physical examination and histopathological examination. However, for defects with a diameter of more than 1.5 to 2 cm, generally recommended using axial pattern flaps such as forehead flaps, nasolabial flaps and dorsal nose flaps. In this case, the patient was treated with wide excision followed by nasal reconstruction with a transpositional forehead flap and forehead split thickness skin graft.&#x0D; Conclusion: Nevertheless, regional flaps remain the recommended procedure for nasal reconstruction after wide excision of the tumor. Accurate analysis of the damage combined with evaluation of the patient's clinical condition is necessary to select the best surgical technique. Thorough knowledge of regional vascular anatomy and a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach are important first steps for proper treatment of nasal skin cancer, so that the procedure for wide excision of nasal basal cell carcinoma followed by nasal reconstruction with transpositional forehead flap and split thickness skin graft, can provide satisfactory result.

Basal Cell Carcinoma Excision from the Lower Lip with Versatile Keystone Flap for Vascularized Skin Replacement

Watch this full-length, narrated surgical video of a basal cell carcinoma excision with keystone flap reconstruction. This was performed by Dr. Geoffrey Hallock during a surgical mission in Honduras with the World Surgical Foundation.

Septic Cervicofacial Phlegmon Following Basal Cell Carcinoma Excision: Life-threatening Complication of Routine Operation in Maxillofacial Surgery?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a frequent tumor entity, especially in the facial region. The standard therapy for BCC is surgical tumor excision which is generally a low-risk procedure. One of the life-threatening surgical risks and complications when removing BCC in the facial area is infection with the possibility to spread across the deep neck spaces as well as systemic inflammation (sepsis). A 73-year-old patient presented to the emergency department with a swelling of the right cheek, extended towards the neck. Based on his medical history, an outpatient BCC excision of the cheek had been performed the day before. Laboratory tests showed a fulminant inflammatory process of sepsis. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a buccal phlegmon on the right extended towards the deep neck. A diagnosis of septic cervicofacial phlegmon following BCC excision was made. The therapy consisted of intensive care sepsis treatment, surgical relief, and drainage of the phlegmon and a calculated antibiotic treatment (piperacillin/tazobactam, clindamycin). Removal of BCC in the facial region is generally a low-risk procedure. A possible complication is postoperative wound infection. In rare cases the clinical picture of a septic cervicofacial phlegmon can develop. Surgical focus sanitation, broad-based antibiotic therapy and intensive care sepsis management are the key therapeutic pillars of this postoperative complication.

Assessing the impact of anaesthetic and surgical task-shifting globally: A systematic literature review.

The global shortage of skilled anaesthesiologists, surgeons and obstetricians is a leading cause of high unmet surgical need. Although anaesthetic and surgical task-shifting are widely practiced to mitigate this barrier, little is known about their safety and efficacy. This systematic review seeks to highlight the existing evidence on the clinical outcomes of patients operated on by non-physicians or non-specialist physicians globally. Relevant articles were identified by searching four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Global Health) in all languages between 2008 and February 2022. Retrieved documents were screened against pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria and their qualities were appraised critically. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and findings were synthesised narratively. In total, 40 studies have been included. Thirty-five focus on task-shifting for surgical and obstetric procedures, whereas four studies address anaesthetic task-shifting; one study covers both interventions. The majority are located in Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. Seventy-five percent present perioperative mortality outcomes and 85% analyse morbidity measures. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries, which primarily concentrates on caesarean sections, hernia repairs, and surgical male circumcisions, points to the overall safety of non-surgeons. On the other hand, the literature on surgical task-shifting in high-income countries is limited to nine studies analysing tube thoracostomies, neurosurgical procedures, caesarean sections, male circumcisions, and basal cell carcinoma excisions. Finally, only five studies pertaining to anaesthetic task-shifting across all country settings answer the research question with conflicting results, making it difficult to draw conclusions on the quality of non-physician anaesthetic care. Overall, it appears that non-specialists can safely perform high-volume, low-complexity operations. Further research is needed to understand the implications of surgical task-shifting in high-income countries and to better assess the performance of non-specialist anaesthesia providers. Future studies must adopt randomised study designs and include long-term outcome measures to generate high quality evidence.

Recurrence of Basal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Surgical Excision and Histopathological Analysis with Frozen Section Technique with Complete Margin Control (CMC-FS): A 15-Year Experience of a Reference Center.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of eyelid malignancy and it is considered to be dangerous due to its proximity to functionally essential organs. Early diagnosis and complete excision of the primary lesion are crucial to prevent infiltration and metastasis. The study aims to evaluate the extent of recurrence in subjects affected by BCC of the upper third of the face treated with surgical eradication and the frozen section technique with complete margin control (CMC-FS), in comparison with the gold standard Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). The study included 111 patients with 111 biopsy-proven eyelid BCCs. On clinical examination, all lesions were removed with 2 mm margins clinically free of neoplasm. Prior to reconstruction, CMC-FS analysis of all surgical margins was performed on each tumor for histopathologic confirmation. Subsequently, all margins were presented for the permanent paraffin sections. There were 69 primary carcinomas and 42 secondary carcinomas among the 111 samples. No recurrence occurred in 109 tumors followed-up for at least 5 years, with a total recurrence rate of 1.8%. The median time between lesion excision and diagnosis of recurrence was 20 months. at 5-year follow-up, CMC-FS guided excision of BCCs of the eyelids resulted in recurrence rates equivalent to MMS. Intraoperative microscopic control of all margins reduced the recurrence rate of the upper third of the facial BCCs, correlating with easier reconstruction with better esthetic and functional outcome.

Wide excision of Basal Cell Carcinoma on the upper extremity: A case report

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, usually occurring in the sun-exposed area, such as the head and neck, but also seen in less common areas like the upper or lower extremities. The initial treatment of BCC lesions is completing tumor removal. One of the standard therapy for BCC is wide surgical excision, as it is highly efficacious. A 76-year-old female patient complained of a wounded blackish lump on the left upper extremity for about 2 years. It started small, then grew bigger. Complained of itchiness, but no pain. The lump easily bled when accidentally touched. Dermatology examination identified a hyperpigmented nodule about 1.5 cm, with a clear border, irregular raised edges, slightly rough surface, and erosion. A dermoscopy examination showed short-fine telangiectasia, blue-grey ovoid nests, and ulceration. The patient was diagnosed with suspected BCC and underwent biopsy, also wide excision surgery. Histopathology showed pigmented BCC. One month later, surgery proved a good result. Selecting appropriate therapy in BCC should be given to reduce the recurrence rate. The common treatment for BCC is wide surgical excision, because of its association with a low recurrence rate and the ability to confirm residual tumor pathologically. In conclusion, wide excision surgery is one of the effective therapy options for BCC.

DS28 In search of salivation? Management of parotid duct injury following Mohs micrographic surgery

Abstract Parotid duct injury is a rare complication of cutaneous surgery usually occurring after excision of deep infiltrating tumours on the cheek. The existing literature is limited to case reports. We present our experience of two cases encountered in our unit over the last 15 years. Our first patient was an 87-year-old man referred for Mohs excision of a biopsy-confirmed morphoeic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on his right cheek. During tumour extirpation, it was necessary to sacrifice a short section of the parotid duct. This was confirmed by direct visualization of the duct and a visible salivary leak. Immediate referral was made to the plastic surgery department, who also noted ipsilateral weakness in the distribution of the buccal branch of the facial nerve. The parotid duct was repaired over a lacrimal stent secured to his buccal mucosa. The wound was reconstructed with a large rhombic transposition flap and the parotid gland infiltrated with botulinum toxin. Four weeks later, the salivary stent had spontaneously fallen out and fresh-looking saliva was noted emerging from the parotid ampulla. Our second patient was a 65-year-old man referred for Mohs excision of a 3-cm nodular BCC on the left cheek. During tumour extirpation, a short section of the parotid duct was resected, which was clearly visible in the Mohs layer. On this occasion, the patient was referred to colleagues in the maxillofacial surgery department who attended the dermatology surgical unit. Under local anaesthesia, the parotid duct was cannulated using an epidural catheter secured both intraorally and to the residual duct using an absorbable monofilament suture (intraoperative pictures will demonstrate the technique). The Mohs defect was reconstructed with a bilobed transposition flap. Hyoscine patches were supplied to help reduce salivary flow. Marked swelling of the parotid gland developed postoperatively, which settled without further intervention. After 4 weeks, the epidural catheter was removed, and saliva was noted to be flowing from the parotid ampulla. Weakness of the lip elevators was noted in keeping with facial nerve injury. Despite the infrequency of parotid duct injury, it is important that cutaneous surgeons/Mohs surgeons are aware of how to proceed in these cases. In cases where assistance is not available from other specialties, the technique could be undertaken by an appropriately trained dermatological surgeon/Mohs surgeon using local anaesthesia.