[Reconstruction of the nose after oncological operations]

Skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) and melanoma are the most frequent malignancy appearing in a human begin. The treatment of choice is surgical excision of tumor with margins of healthy tissue. An extent of resection determines the method of reconstruction.

The authors present reconstructive methods of nasal skin cancer defects performed in 61 patients treated in the Department of Otolaryngology of Medical University of Warsaw between 1998 and 2007. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma were diagnosed in 49, 10 and 2 patients respectively. Depending on the extend of tumor resection different reconstructive techniques were performed.

In 9 patient tumor recurrence was detected during 1-2 years of follow-up. Among them, in 7 patients another reconstruction procedure was required, and 1 patient underwent several surgical procedures due to subsequent recurrences.

Surgical wounds after resection of skin cancer of the nose can be closed primarily or by means of variety of reconstructive techniques that in some cases may be combined depending on the extent of a defect.