Shoulder girdle resection for giant basal cell carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic oncology
• Surgical oncology
• Musculoskeletal tumors

Background:

• Tumors of the scapula or adjacent soft tissues can invade the shoulder joint.
• Forequarter amputation is a radical surgical option for such cases, resulting in loss of the arm.
• Giant basal cell carcinoma is a rare but aggressive skin cancer that can metastasize.

Observation:

• A case of giant basal cell carcinoma involving the scapula and shoulder joint is presented.
• The tumor invaded the bones of the shoulder girdle.
• Forequarter amputation was considered as the primary surgical approach.

Findings:

• Shoulder girdle resection (Tikhor-Linberg resection) was successfully performed.
• This less radical approach preserved the patient's functional arm.
• Histopathological analysis confirmed giant basal cell carcinoma.

Implications:

• Shoulder girdle resection is a viable alternative to forequarter amputation for select scapular tumors.
• Preserving the arm can significantly improve patient quality of life.
• This technique offers a limb-sparing option in advanced musculoskeletal oncology.