Staged excision and reconstruction of extensive facial-orbital tumors

Extensive facial-orbital tumors are basal cell carcinomas which are exceptionally difficult to treat by conventional therapy because of: (1) skin involvement of more than one square inch of the eyelids of face; (2) fixation to bone or periosteum at the orbital rim; and (3) extension onto the inner surface of the eyelid or through the orbital septum. Due to indistinct skin margins, visual impressions of the extent of these tumors are unreliable. Radiation is usually contraindicated because of possible bone involvement. Single stage excision of the entire tumor with frozen section evaluation of the margins is difficult because of the extent of the facial and orbital components of the lesion. A technique is described which involves staged excision and reconstruction of such extensive tumors. Stage one involves lamellar resection of the skin tumor. Lamellar resection is a modification of the Mohs technique, using permanent section evaluation of all margins, after which the surgical defect is allowed to heal by granulation or is grafted. Stage two involves en bloc resection of the remaining tumor, with frozen section evaluation of all margins. Stage three involves later cosmetic and functional reconstruction of the orbit and eyelids in a tumor-free location. The use of this technique is demonstrated by the description of a patient who would probably have required exenteration if conventional surgical methods had been used.