Surgical management of skin cancer and trauma involving the middle third of the auricle

Präoperativer Hochfrequenzultraschall: Ein zuverlässiges Managementinstrument bei nichtmelanozytärem Hautkrebs der Ohrmuschel und der Nase: Pre-operative high-frequency ultrasound: A reliable management tool in auricular and nasal non-melanoma skin cancer

Hintergrund und Zielsetzung

Das Wissen über die Tiefeninfiltration bei nichtmelanozytärem Hautkrebs (NMSC) mithilfe präoperativer Sonographie könnte den Ärzten ermöglichen, den am besten geeigneten therapeutischen Ansatz zu wählen, unnötige Operationen und teure bildgebende Verfahren zu vermeiden und die Diagnose und Behandlung nicht zu verzögern. In unserer retrospektiven, monozentrischen Studie haben wir die Nützlichkeit des Hochfrequenzultraschalls (HFUS) zur Beurteilung der Tiefeninfiltration bei aurikulären und nasalen NMSC‐Fällen untersucht und die darauffolgende Änderung des therapeutischen Ansatzes bewertet.

Patienten und Methodik

In 60 NMSC‐Fällen haben wir die Genauigkeit des HFUS bei der Erkennung von Knorpel‐ und Knocheninfiltration sowie die Korrelation sonographischer und histologischer Parameter beurteilt.

Ergebnisse

In 16,6% der Fälle wurde präoperativ eine tiefe Knorpel‐/Knochenbeteiligung oder eine lokoregionale Erkrankung identifiziert, was zu einer geänderten therapeutischen Strategie mit radioimmunologischer Behandlung anstelle von Operation führte. In zwei Fällen identifizierte der präoperative HFUS eine lokale Knorpelinfiltration, was die Anzahl der chirurgischen Eingriffe reduzierte. Bei den verbleibenden 48 Läsionen ohne Tiefeninfiltration wurde eine Korrelation von > 99% zwischen der histologischen und sonographischen Tumoreindringtiefe gefunden (p <0.001).

Schlussfolgerungen

Präoperativer HFUS beeinflusst das therapeutische Vorgehen bei NMSC, indem es eine subklinische Beteiligung tieferer Strukturen erkennt, umfangreichere diagnostische Maßnahmen vermeidet, Kosten reduziert und die Qualität der Gesundheitsversorgung verbessert. HFUS sollte in der Dermatochirurgie vor der Tumorentfernung zur optimierten Therapie und zur verbesserten Patientenberatung eingesetzt werden.

Pre-operative high-frequency ultrasound: a reliable management tool in auricular and nasal non-melanoma skin cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The knowledge of depth infiltration in non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) using pre-operative ultrasound could enable clinicians to choose the most adequate therapeutic approach, avoiding unnecessary surgeries and expensive imaging methods, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Our single-center retrospective study determined the usefulness of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) for depth infiltration assessment in auricular and nasal NMSC and assessed the subsequent change in therapeutic approach.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 60 NMSC cases, we assessed the accuracy of HFUS in cartilaginous/bone infiltration detection as well as the correlation of sonographic and histological parameters.

RESULTS

In 16.6% of cases, a deep cartilaginous/bone involvement or locoregional disease was identified pre-operatively, resulting in a changed therapeutical scheme of radio-immunological treatment rather than surgery. In two cases, pre-operative HFUS identified local cartilage infiltration, reducing the number of surgical procedures. Forty-eight remaining lesions with no depth infiltration were excised; a correlation of > 99% between the histologic and sonographic tumor depth (p<0.001) was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-surgical HFUS influences the therapeutic management in NMSC by detecting subclinical involvement of deeper structures, avoiding more extensive diagnostics, reducing costs, and improving healthcare quality. High-frequency ultrasound should be implemented in dermatosurgery before tumor excision for optimized therapy and improved patient counseling.

Curettage and colour-A technique for defining tumour depth on the ear in the Mohs and non-Mohs setting

For tumours of the ear that are suspected to involve auricular cartilage, precise definition of the extent of involved deep margin can be difficult. As large resections of cartilage can be cosmetically disfiguring with limited repair options, we propose a simple and effective technique to facilitate a targeted deep margin resection using a curette and a surgical marking pen.

Reconstruction of Extensive Auricular Defects Using a Retroauricular Artery Perforator-Based Propeller Flap

BACKGROUND

Various local techniques have been successfully used for the reconstruction of auricular defects. However, most local techniques are not suitable for extensive auricular defects. The aim of this study is to investigate the utility of a retroauricular artery perforator-based propeller flap for the reconstruction of extensive auricular defects by evaluating aesthetic outcomes using objective and quantitative parameters.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with extensive full-thickness and partial-thickness defects were treated with retroauricular artery perforator-based propeller flaps harvested from the mastoid and neck regions. The surgical procedures were performed using single-stage reconstruction in postauricular partial-thickness defects and 2-stage reconstruction in full-thickness auricular defects. Levels of final satisfaction and tissue matching as well as donor scar perception were evaluated by the patients and objective observers.

RESULTS

The original sizes and projections of the auricles were achieved. The color, texture, and thickness of the flaps matched well with the adjacent auricles. The vast majority of the patients and observers were very satisfied with the surgical outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Retroauricular artery perforator-based propeller flaps may preserve the size and projection in both partial- and full-thickness extensive defects of the auricle. With this procedure, there was also excellent matching of the color, texture, and thickness of the flap with the adjacent tissue, as well as acceptable levels of donor scarring, thereby achieving satisfactory aesthetic outcomes.

Application of Sandwich Shape Double Bilobed Flap in Auricular Defects

BACKGROUND

Reconstruction of auricular defects is a challenging surgical procedure because of its complex 3-dimensional structure. Various surgical techniques have been used for the reconstruction of the auricle. However, most of these techniques are not applicable to the reconstruction of marginal and central defects, and the texture and color harmony of the reconstructed parts were not evaluated in detail. Thus, the aim of this study is to present a novel technique, sandwich shape double bilobed flap, which can be used for correcting, both, central and marginal defects of the auricle and to evaluate esthetic outcomes with objective and quantitative parameters.

METHODS

In this study, 24 patients with partial thickness auricular defects were treated with a bilobed flap, and excess tissue in the postauricular sulcus region was transferred to the defective region on the anterior surface. Color compatibility between the flap and surrounding tissues, patient's satisfaction on the final shape and auricular symmetry, as well as anterior scar formation on the auricle were evaluated.

RESULTS

The color, texture, and thickness of the flap matched well with the adjacent auricular tissue and there was no perceptible color difference. The original size, projection, and subunits of auricles were maintained. All patients were mostly very satisfied with surgical outcomes (mean satisfaction score, 4.75 ± 0.4). There was only inconspicuous scar on the visible anterior surface of the auricle (mean patients' scores, 2.22 ± 0.3; mean observers' scores, 2.6 ± 0.4).

CONCLUSIONS

The sandwich shape double bilobed flap technique preserved size and subunits of the auricle. Additionally, this procedure also resulted in inconspicuous scarring as well as similar color, texture, and thickness of the flap with the surrounding tissue, thereby achieving satisfying esthetic outcomes.