Treatment of T3 nonmelanoma skin cancer of the nasal pyramid with full-thickness skin graft

Introduction – Objective

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (nmsc) is the most common cancer amongst Caucasians, outnumbering at least in the United States all other cancers combined. The nasal region is the most commonly affected site by basal cell carcinoma, the treatment of which is literally an aesthetic challenge.

We aim at photo-presenting the treatment and follow-up of a T3 nmsc of the nasal pyramid with a full-thickness skin graft.

Method

A skin tumor with a long diameter of 43mm on the nasal pyramid had to be dealt with on a 92-year-old female suffering from diabetes mellitus. It was excised under local anesthesia along with a 5mm free margin. The defect was covered with a full-thickness skin graft obtained from the lower anterior abdominal wall.

Results

One week postoperatively the healing was proceeding normally and the graft had a vivid color. Though two weeks later she underwent an injury right on the graft resulting in a rather discoloring area the final outcome was satisfactory enough. Regarding follow-up, 3 years later neither a local recurrence nor a distal metastasis has been observed.

Conclusion

Grafting of the nasal pyramid with full-thickness skin is a beneficial alternative to flaps bearing certain advantages both from the curative and the aesthetic point of view for the sufferers of nmsc.

Myself

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022