Reconstructive surgery following skin tumor resection can be challenging. Treatment options after removing the tumor are skin grafting, local pedicled and axial flaps, or microsurgery for complex and extensive wounds correction. Recently, the use of dermal substitutes has been extended to reconstructive surgery in cutaneous oncology. Objectives. To report both a single-center experience using dermal substitutes in reconstructive surgery for skin malignancies and reconstructive surgery's outcomes. Methods and Results. Among thirteen patients, seven (53.8%) were male with mean age of 62.6 years. Regarding diagnosis, there were five cases (38.5%) of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), two (15.4%) of melanoma in situ, two (15.4%) of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, one (7.7%) of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), one (7.7%) of angiosarcoma, and one (7.7%) of eccrine carcinoma (EC). The most common site of injury was scalp (53.8%) and lower limbs (23.1%). Seven (53.8%) patients used NPWT and six (46.2%) patients underwent Brown's dressing. The most frequent complication of the first stage was wound contamination (38.5%). Average time to second-stage skin grafting was 43.9 days. Three (23%) patients developed tumor recurrence and one died. Conclusions. Use of dermal substitutes in oncology can be an option for reconstruction after extended resections, providing good aesthetical and functional results.
Background: Standard treatment for subungual melanoma is wide local excision including digit amputation in order to obtain safety margins. Level of amputation has been discussed in order to achieve appropriate oncological results along with preservation of limb function wherein local excision of
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a locally invasive neoplasia with a pattern of infiltrative growth that leads to extended resections. To avoid unnecessary resections and spare tissues, its treatment requires an adequate assessment of the margins. We present a case where artificial dermis (Matriderm®) was used followed by skin graft for reconstruction. We present a 50-year-old woman with a DFSP in the occipital region. She was referred to us after a first surgery with positive margins. A wide local excision with a 2-cm margin was performed and periosteal tissue was also removed, which led to exposure of the skull. Matriderm was placed on the bone surface and dressings were changed every other day. Meanwhile, margins were evaluated by the complete circumferential and peripheral deep margin assessment (CCPDMA) and were positive for DFSP in the superior margin. After 4 weeks the area was completely covered by granulation tissue and a new resection followed by reconstruction with a skin graft was performed. With regard to the difficulties in the margin assessment in DFSP, we present artificial dermis (Matriderm) as an option for reconstructive surgery in these patients, especially when a skin graft cannot be performed as a first option.
Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) of the vulva is rare and oncologic surgery with free margins may lead to severe functional damage, requiring multidisciplinary approach regarding resection, margin assessment and reconstruction. Case Report: Two cases of DFSP in vulva were treated in a single institution. A 28-year-old patient with an incisional biopsy in the vulvar region revealing DFSP underwent a partial vulvectomy with clitoris preservation. Pathological studies revealed free margins and reconstructive surgery was performed. This patient is disease free in a 40 months follow up. The other, a 57-year-old patient was also referred after an incomplete resection of a DFSP in the vulvar region. A 1-cm margim resection followed by Complete Circumferential and Peripheral Deep Margin Assessment (CCPDMA) was performed. Although the upper lateral margin was positive, it was possible to perform another wide local excision with preservation of the clitoris and primary closure. Conclusion: DFSP of the vulva requires an accurate evaluation of margins, resections following oncological principles and reconstruction. Although being a very challenging lesion that usually implies difficult surgical management, if treated in a multidisciplinary environment, with surgical oncologists, experienced dermatopathologists and reconstructive surgeons can achieve good results. Even in difficult cases that presents with large lesions and compromising challenging areas, a complete oncologic resection can be performed minimizing functional damage for the patient.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.