The management of extensive tumours of the scalp

Though tumours of the scalp and skull are not very common certain severe and extensive forms are associated frequently with intracranial propagation and therefore their reconstruction represents often a major problem requiring the use of a series of surgical methods. Their treatment requires the use of expanders, local flaps, pedicled cutaneous and musculocutaneous flaps, as well as free flaps. This report deals with 10 patients with localized extensive tumours larger than 120 cm2 within the region of the scalp and skull subjected to various reconstruction procedures. The applied surgical techniques are discussed and attention is devoted also to the involvement of bone in the above mentioned localization as well as to the problems associated with these lesions.