A Study of Surgical Treatment of Cutaneous Malignant Tumors

Lee, Dae Sung; Yun, Sook Jung; Lee, Jee Bum; Kim, Seong Jin; Won, Young Ho; Lee, Seung Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors and surgical approaches to treat them by dermatologists have been increasing recently. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze our experience of removal and reconstruction surgery to treat malignant skin tumors. METHOD: We clinically analyzed 177 cases of cutaneous malignant tumors which had been operated at the department of dermatology, Chonnam University Hospital in Gwangju during the last 5 years between July 1998 and June 2003. RESULTS: 1. The most common cutaneous malignant tumors was basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (62.7%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (15.3%), malignant melanoma (11.9%), Bowen's disease (5.6%), and extramammary Paget's disease (2.8%), respectively. 2. The most common site of all cutaneous malignant tumors was the face (69.2%), followed by lower extremities (10.4%), upper extremities (6.6%), trunk (6.6%), and scalp (4.9%). In each tumor, the face was the most common site for BCC and SCC, lower extremities for malignant melanoma, trunk and lower extremities for Bowen's disease, respectively. 3. The local flap was the most common method to repair surgical defects (51.1%), followed by primary closure (29.1%), and skin graft (19.8%) in general. In terms of tumor types, the most commonly used method was local flap for BCC and SCC, primary closure for Bowen's disease, and skin graft for malignant melanoma, respectively. In terms of location, the most commonly used method was local flap for the face, primary closure for the scalp and trunk, and skin graft for the upper and lower extremities, respectively.