Scalping Surgery - Dermatologic Indications beyond Curative Primary Skin Cancer Surgery

Melanoma surgery-An update

Cutaneous melanoma is the major cause of mortality from all skin cancers. The treatment has been revolutionized in recent years by introduction of immunotherapy and targeted therapy for melanoma patients Stages III and IV. Therefore, the role of surgery in melanoma treatment needs to be redefined. In this narrative review, we will focus on surgery for diagnosis, treatment of primary tumor, and metastases in the era of new and effective medical treatment options. Neoadjuvant therapy is currently investigated in several trials. Surgery for treatment-resistant metastases is another field of interest. In conclusion, surgery remains a cornerstone for diagnosis and treatment of primary melanoma. Therapeutic lymphadenectomy has lost importance while surgery in sentinel lymph node diagnostics and metastasectomy are useful in a tailored individual approach of combined treatments. There is a trend to less invasive surgical procedures.

Skin field cancerisation: A systematic review of the literature regarding its treatment

INTRODUCTION

Skin neoplasms are the most frequent malignant lesions, increasing patient's morbidity when associated with skin field cancerisation. There is a need to understand the current therapies, both clinical and surgical.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guideline, registered in PROSPERO: CRD42018114826, including studies from 2012 to 2019.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and eighty-two studies were found, of which 21 were included. Of these, 8 primary studies were randomised controlled trials: fractional CO₂ laser-assisted photodynamic therapy (PDT) vs. PDT (no significance), daylight PDT vs. PDT (no significance, daylight PDT had less adverse effects), trichloroacetic acid peel vs. 5-aminolaevulinic acid PDT (clinical improvement of aminolaevulinic acid PDT), 5-Fluorouracil 0.5%/Salicylic Acid 10% vs. vehicle (clinical improvement of 5-Fluorouracil 0.5%/Salicylic Acid 10%), photolyase vs. sun filters (no significance), sunscreens vs. sunscreens plus DNA repair enzymes (DNA Repair Enzymes was more effective in reducing field cancerisation). Only one systematic review was included in which there was effectiveness of daylight PDT in the treatment of actinic keratoses. The other 12 included studies had a lower level of evidence including surgical studies.

CONCLUSION

Clinical studies are more relevant in the treatment of the field cancerisation. There is a lack of surgical studies.

Acute otitis externa because of negative pressure wound therapy applied over the head and ear canal for scalping treatment

Scalping is considered a complex wound with difficult treatment, requiring early surgical intervention, reconstructive plastic surgery, and a multidisciplinary team. The reconstruction of the scalp frequently requires a combination of therapies, including temporary coverage, such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Complications of NPWT, such as bleeding, infection, and pain, have been described. However, there is no report of acute otitis externa (AOE) because of NPWT. In this article, we present an unprecedented clinical case - a female patient who developed AOE after scalping treatment with NPWT applied over the head and ear canal. We consider that it may be a result of the direct physical action of subatmospheric pressure, the presence of dressing covering the external meatus, and alteration of the bacterial population.