Adequacy of surgical margins, re-excision, and evaluation of factors associated with recurrence: a retrospective study of 769 basal cell carcinomas

Versatile Use of V-Y Advancement Flap for Facial Defect Reconstruction: A Case Series in Asian Patients

BACKGROUND

V-Y advancement flap (VYAF) is a commonly used flap for facial reconstruction, but it is not popular in Asian society with limited aesthetic outcome evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate our experience of facial VYAF with the quantitative aesthetic outcome assessment.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

From January 2013 to December 2022, patients who underwent facial VYAF reconstruction were reviewed. Postoperative photographs were collected and independently graded by three plastic surgeons, three nurses, and six non-medical personnel using Manchester scar scale (MSS). The representative preoperative images were selected for surgeons' reconstruction preferences survey.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients (27 females and 21 males), with a mean age of 66.8 (23-97) years, were included in this study. All flaps survived with no flap necrosis. Only six patients (12.5%) developed minor postoperative complications, and they were treated conservatively and resolved uneventfully. The total MSS score was 7.8 ± 1.9 (scale of 4 [best scar] to 24 [worst scar]) and the overall scar VAS rating was 1.9 ± 1.1 (0 [best scar] to 10 [worst scar]), indicating satisfactory postoperative scar condition. From the survey of 22 plastic surgeons and 11 scenarios, VYAF was rarely chosen among other local flaps which only accounted for 8.7%.

CONCLUSION

VYAF is an easy and safe method for facial reconstruction with low morbidity, but its usefulness is underappreciated. With a proper design and cautious dissection, we believe that good aesthetic and functional outcomes can be achieved with VYAF.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

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Assessment of Standard Surgical Excision Efficacy and Analysis of Recurrence-Associated Factors in 343 Cases of Nasal Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

In Caucasians, basal cell carcinoma, the predominant non-melanoma skin cancer type, poses challenges for surgeons due to anatomical and aesthetic concerns, particularly when located on the nose. The study aimed to evaluate tumor distribution, size, morphological subtypes, surgical outcomes, radicality levels, and their correlation with recurrence rates. A retrospective analysis encompassed 343 cases of nasal skin cancer over a four-year period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022. The research cohort comprised 252 female and 91 male participants, averaging 75.2 years old. Tumors were most found on the left sidewall of the nose (25.4%) and the dorsum (24.8%). The infiltrative morphological subtype was predominant (70.8%). Standard surgical excision with fasciocutaneous plastic was the preferred surgical procedure. Radical excision, defined by the absence of tumor cells in a resection margin, was accomplished in 79.0% of lesions, whereas 16.9% demonstrated incomplete excision, signifying the presence of tumor cells in the resection margin. Non-radically excised tumors exhibited a significantly higher recurrence rate (24.1%) compared to those with radical excision (6.3%). In nasal reconstruction, diverse surgical techniques are essential for precise adaptation based on factors like tumor characteristics and patient needs. Despite surgeons' careful adherence to excision margin guidelines, the possibility of non-radical outcome cannot be eliminated.