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Importance: Melanoma arising in chronically photodamaged skin, especially on the head and neck, is often characterized by poorly defined clinical margins and unpredictable occult extension. Staged excision techniques have been described to treat these challenging melanomas., Objective: To investigate the local recurrence rates and margin to clearance end points using staged excision with comprehensive hematoxylin-eosin-stained permanent section margin control., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this observational cohort study performed from October 8, 1997, to December 31, 2006, with a median follow-up of 9.3 years, 806 patients with melanoma on the head and neck, where clinical occult extension is common, were studied at an academic medical center., Interventions: Staged excision with comprehensive hematoxylin-eosin-stained permanent section margin control commonly known as the square technique., Main Outcomes and Measures: Local recurrence rates and margin to clearance end points., Results: A total of 806 patients (276 women [34.2%]; 805 white [99.9%]) with a median age at the time of first staged excision procedure of 65 years (range, 20-94 years) participated in the study. The estimated local recurrence rates were 1.4% at 5 years, 1.8% at 7.5 years, and 2.2% at 10 years. For each 50-mm2 increase in the size of the clinical lesion, there was a 9% increase in the rate of local recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.15; P = .02). The mean (SD) margin from lesion to clearance for melanoma in situ was 9.3 (5.1) mm compared with 13.7 (5.9) mm for invasive melanoma. For melanoma in situ, margins were clear after 5 mm or less in 232 excisions (41.1%) and after 10 mm or less in 420 excisions (74.5%). For invasive melanoma, margins were clear after 5 mm or less in 8 excisions (3.0%) and after 10 mm or less in 141 excisions (52.2%)., Conclusions and Relevance: Staged excision with comprehensive permanent section margin control of melanomas arising in chronically sun-damaged skin on the head and neck has favorable recurrence rates when melanoma margins are difficult to assess, and recurrence rates are high with traditional techniques.

Objective: To characterize revision surgery following V-Y subcutaneous tissue pedicle advancement flap repair of large upper lip skin defects., Methods: Retrospective review of upper lip skin defects at least 3.0 cm(2) in area that were reconstructed with a V-Y subcutaneous tissue pedicle advancement flap at an academic tertiary care center. Depth and area of the defect, as well as involvement of the vermilion and nasal ala, were recorded as independent variables. Revision techniques were analyzed to identify patterns., Results: Thirty patients were identified as having upper lip skin defects with a mean (range) area of 7.0 (3.0-14.0) cm(2) (median, 6.25 cm(2)). The defect involved the nasal ala in 4 cases and the vermilion in 3 cases. At least 1 revision surgery was performed in 14 patients (47%). Alar or vermilion involvement was a significant factor in revision by χ(2) analysis (P = .03). Larger defect size did not predict a need for revision, even among cases where the defect did not involve the ala or vermilion (P = .68)., Conclusions: Reconstruction of large upper lip skin defects with a V-Y subcutaneous tissue pedicle advancement flap is associated with a 47% revision rate, and when the defect involves the ala or vermilion, the revision rate is increased. Defect size alone cannot be used to predict the need for revision surgery. Revision techniques are demonstrated., Competing Interests: The authors have no disclosures and have no commercial interests.

Nasal reconstruction has reached a point in its evolution such that its goals no longer include simply filling the defect. The contemporary facial reconstructive surgeon aims for an aesthetic and functional result in the vast majority of cases. Cutaneous nasal defects most often result from oncologic surgery, such as either Mohs excision or square technique, or, less commonly, traumatic or iatrogenic injury. This article discusses the current practices in the repair of nasal defects. Although this article focuses on reconstruction of oncologic defects, the principles discussed can be effectively applied to traumatic defects, as well.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with collagenolytic and gelatinolytic activities are up-regulated in basal cell carcinoma. In the present study we demonstrate that the major collagenolytic enzyme detected is MMP-1 (interstitial collagenase) while gelatinolytic enzymes include both MMP-2 (72-kDa gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (92-kDa gelatinase B). Significant fractions of all three enzymes are present as active forms. In spite of the fact that high levels of gelatinolytic enzymes are present, the major fragmentation products resulting from digestion of intact type I collagen are the 1/4 and 3/4 fragments (products of MMP-1-mediated digestion). Thus, it appears that the gelatinolytic enzymes are not capable of degrading the collagen fragments as rapidly as they are produced. Since previous studies have demonstrated that interaction of interstitial fibroblasts with high molecular weight fragments of type I collagen leads to increased MMP production, the present results suggest a mechanism underlying altered function of stromal elements in the connective tissue adjacent to the growing neoplasm.

Objective: To obviate the difficulty of ruling out confounding variables (eg, age, individual variability) as the source of differences seen when comparing tumor tissue and control tissue from unrelated individuals, we examined the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 (interstitial collagenase) and MMP-9 (92-kDa gelatinase B) in histologically normal skin immediately adjacent to basal cell carcinomas (peritumoral tissue) after Mohs micrographic surgery and postauricular skin from the same patients., Design: Peritumoral and postauricular skin samples were obtained from 17 patients undergoing Mohs surgery. Expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 was examined in these specimens using a combination of approaches including zymography, collagen-degradation assays, and immunohistology., Results: The expression levels of MMP-1 and MMP-9 were consistently elevated in the peritumoral tissue compared with skin from the distal site., Conclusion: This finding indicates that even when potentially important variables such as age and individual variability are controlled for, tumor-specific effects on the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-1 remain.

Objective: To evaluate aesthetic and functional results of reconstruction of the nasal alar subunit using free cartilage grafts with an interpolated cheek or forehead flap and a vascularized mucosal flap when required., Setting: University-based facial plastic surgery practice., Patients: A case series of 50 patients with primary alar defects undergoing nasal alar reconstruction., Main Outcome Measures: Observer's and patient's rating of the final results, patient's rating of breathing and level of self-consciousness, and medical record review of complications., Results: Most aesthetic outcomes were excellent to good. Breathing from the reconstructed side can be returned to preoperative status in most of these patients., Conclusion: Staged reconstruction of the nasal ala using free cartilage grafts, interpolated cheek or forehead and mucosal flaps when necessary, result in a highly aesthetic and functional outcome in most patients.

Background: The optimal design of a skin flap requires an understanding of the concepts of tissue movement., Objective: The purpose of this manuscript was to demonstrate concepts of sliding and lifting tissue movement for flap reconstruction., Methods: Six similar defects located in the forehead-temple-eyebrow region were repaired using a different skin flap., Results: The specific flap design for a given defect is based on the answer to three predictable events that result from tissue transfer: Where is the tension? Where are the final incision lines? Where is the redundant tissue?, Conclusion: A mental exercise assessing all available reconstruction options should be performed for each individual patient and defect. Both patient and defect considerations need to be assessed. A thorough understanding of both anatomy and tissue movement is necessary for optimal skin flap reconstruction.

Background: Management of lentigo maligna (LM) and lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) may present problems because of the characteristic, yet unpredictable, subclinical peripheral and periadnexal extension of atypical junctional melanocytic hyperplasia beyond the visible margins., Objective: We used paraffin-embedded (permanent) peripheral vertical section margin control in a staged fashion in the management of LM and LMM., Methods: We used a modification of surgical excision in a staged fashion by means of a two-bladed knife with permanent peripheral vertical section margin control., Results: This method is technically easy and results in complete histologic evaluation of the peripheral margins without compromising the measurement of tumor thickness of the primary melanoma., Conclusion: The use of the "square" procedure, a staged excision with permanent peripheral vertical section margin control, is useful in the management of LM and LMM.

Background: A deep defect of the nasal alar rim or lobule may represent a unique and difficult challenge because of the lax free margin and structural support supplied by the alar rim and lobule. Traditional closure strategies, including granulation, full thickness skin grafting, or nasolabial transposition flaps may result in unsatisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes., Objective: This article describes our experience with the staged cheek-to-nose interpolation flap for repairing deep skin cancer excision defects of the nasal alar rim and lobule., Methods: The staged cheek-to-nose interpolation flap was used immediately after Mohs micrographic surgery to repair 18 deep nasal alar rim/lobule defects. In 13 patients, a free cartilage graft was used to restore structural support., Results: The cosmetic and functional outcomes of each repair were judged from good to excellent by patient and surgeon. No cases of infection or flap necrosis occurred. To enhance the cosmetic outcome, three patients underwent spot dermabrasion within 2 months after flap detachment., Conclusion: The staged cheek-to-nose interpolation flap, with or without free cartilage grafts, consistently provides good to excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes when performed on properly selected deep nasal alar rim/lobule defects.

This article reviews the authors' approach to the management of facial defects based on extensive experience in facial reconstruction. The article describes basic principles of wound healing with attention to healing by secondary intention and its role in facial reconstruction. Detailed consideration is provided for various options of repair of facial defects including primary closure, grafting, and local flap techniques.

We describe our experience with two patients with xeroderma pigmentosum who underwent periodic trichloroacetic acid chemical peels. One also received a full-face dermabrasion. The effect of chemical peeling was more transient than dermabrasion but was associated with less morbidity. Both chemical peeling and dermabrasion provided a prophylactic effect against the development of skin malignancies; the latter had a more pronounced effect.

Compared with other locations on the face, skin cancer of the midface has a higher risk of recurrence owing, in part, to the mode of spread and the high frequency of subclinical extension. Skin cancers occurring in the region of the melolabial crease, nasal columella and medial canthus should be resected by Mohs surgery. Because tumors of the midface are sometimes recalcitrant, there are times when surgical ablation results in extensive defects. Reconstruction may be difficult owing to lack of available donor tissue, or because of previous surgery in the area of the proposed donor region. In these circumstances, tissue expansion in the form of controlled prolonged expansion or rapid intraoperative expansion, may, on occasion, provide the optimal reconstruction of form and function.

Three hundred ninety-seven patients with 407 cutaneous malignancies of the auricle, periauricular region, and cartilaginous external ear canal were reviewed. Tumors were most commonly located in the preauricular and postauricular regions, followed by the helix, concha, antihelix, and ear canal. All lesions were excised with Mohs microscopic control of margins. For lesions requiring lateral temporal bone resection, an adaptation of fresh-tissue microscopic control was used to analyze deep and anterior margins suspected of harboring residual tumor. Two-year minimum follow-up of 229 patients with periauricular and auricular tumors (N = 231 tumors) and 14 patients with cartilaginous ear canal tumors (N = 14 tumors) revealed recurrence rates of 6.9% and 14.3%, respectively. Recurrences were most common in cases of large tumors (greater than 2.5 cm), basal cell carcinomas with morphea elements, and multiply recurrent lesions. We conclude that Mohs surgery is comparatively effective, though not uniformly curative, and can be adapted to supplement excision of large tumors in these regions.

Standard methods of managing large or recurrent cutaneous nasal malignant neoplasms are often inadequate, leaving extensions of the tumor that are clinically invisible. Conventional methods may also allow considerable amounts of normal tissue to be sacrificed in an attempt to ensure the removal of all carcinoma. Through partnership of the dermatologic surgeon and the reconstructive surgeon, a more effective method of curing and rehabilitating patients with nasal skin cancer can be achieved. The dermatologic Mohs' surgeon can perform microscopically controlled excision of malignant neoplasms, providing the highest cure rates obtained by any method. This method is particularly suited for basal cell carcinomas that are recurrent, larger than 1 cm in size, or are of the morpheaform histologic subtype. Total microscopic excision allows nasal reconstruction to proceed with the highest degree of confidence of tumor control. The location and extent of the malignancy dictate the surgical approach for nasal reconstruction.