Reconstruction of superficial skin cancer defects of the nose

This article reviewed the results of reconstruction of surface nasal defects after removal of skin cancer.

One hundred patients with 103 surface defects involving various locations on the nose were treated. Management included direct closure, secondary epithelization, full-thickness skin grafts, and local flaps using 1 or 2 stages.

Ten nasal defects were treated by direct closure, 8 defects healed by secondary epithelization, and 30 patients were treated with a full-thickness skin graft. Fifty-five defects were reconstructed with local flaps including 30 one-stage and 25 two-stage flaps.

Many options are available for reconstructing nasal defects that can lead to acceptable aesthetic results. Among the factors that need to be addressed before choosing a procedure for reconstruction of surface nasal defects resulting from skin cancer are size and location of the defect, aesthetic concerns, and the medical status of the patient.