[Lip carcinoma and its surgical treatment]

Cancer of the lip occurs in about 90 percent at the lower lip arising in the vermilion mucosa. In tumor stage I the type of repair depends on the size of the primary tumor. Small tumors are best treated by a simple full-thickness W-excision with direct closure, occasionally combined with vermilionectomy. The simple W-excision is the most common procedure in lip cancer (65%). After excision of greater tumors, repair may be performed by cross lip flap of the Estlander-Abbe type or by the fan-flap of the Gillies type. Large defects are closed with Dieffenbach's or Burow's flap. The Burow's technique give better cosmetic and functional results than the Dieffenbach's method. Also in comparison to the cross lip flaps Burow's technique advantages. The orificium of the mouth remains wide, the lateral angle is not distorted and the tumor may be removed with a broad margin in the normal tissue. Therefore, the Burow's technique is frequently applied (30%) displacing the other methods(is less than 5%). At least the practice of two techniques may be sufficient in dermato-surgery, the W-excision with or without vermilionectomy; and the Burow's technique with its modifications.