MANAGEMENT OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA OF FACE

BACKGROUND Basal Cell Carcinoma is a locally invasive, slowly spreading tumour which rarely metastasises, arising in the epidermis or hair follicles, the cells usually resembling the basal cells of the epidermis. The Basal Cell Carcinoma in North Indian population usually involves head and neck region. The management of Basal Cell Carcinoma of face requires excision of lesion with healthy margins and resurfacing the defect by split skin graft/ flap coverage. Aims and Objectives: 1. To evaluate the epidemiology of Basal Cell Carcinoma of face. 2. To evaluate various modalities of coverage of the defect following surgical excision of Basal Cell Carcinoma of face. MATERIALS AND METHODS This case series was conducted in the Department of Surgery, Govt. Medical College Jammu, J and K, India and included 50 patients having been diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma of face (histopathology proven) admitted in surgery ward from November 2015 to October 2017 (Prospective study). All patients underwent surgical excision with a 5 mm healthy margin followed by reconstruction either by skin graft (12%) or flap coverage (88%). RESULTS Majority of the patients had restoration of anatomy and normal function after reconstructive procedures with colour and contour matching of that of the recipient site. No major complication was encountered in any of the patients. CONCLUSION Basal Cell Carcinoma is treated with surgical excision followed by adequate coverage of the defect by a modality which should not only be functionally adequate, but also aesthetically appealing. Flaps are a versatile modality of reconstruction with the choice of flap being governed by the site and size of the defect post tumour excision.