C. Helen Malone

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Invasion through Ear Cartilage

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the ear represents a high-risk tumor location with an increased risk of metastasis and local tissue invasion. However, it is uncommon for these cancers to invade through nearby cartilage. Cartilage invasion is facilitated by matrix metalloproteases, specifically collagenase 3. We present the unusual case of a 76-year-old man with an auricular squamous cell carcinoma that exhibited full-thickness perforation of the scapha cartilage. Permanent sections through the eroded cartilage confirmed tumor invasion extending to the posterior ear skin.

Progressive Tightening of Pulley Sutures for Primary Repair of Large Scalp Wounds

Summary: Scalp defects greater than 2 cm in diameter are not usually amenable to primary closure and require local tissue rearrangement, grafting, tissue expansion, or prolonged second intention healing. Scalp flap reconstruction is a significant undertaking that requires elevation of a total flap surface area that is 3–6 times the size of the defect, often involves profuse bleeding, and can be challenging to perform without conscious sedation or general anesthesia. Anticoagulated and medically complex patients pose additional challenges and limit options for treatment. The pulley suture uses the mechanical advantage of the pulley to distribute tension across a wound and is useful in areas of high tension such as scalp wounds. For scalp wounds greater than 2 cm, pulley sutures are placed along the length of the wound. An assistant exerts equal tension on the pulley sutures, and the surgeon sequentially ties the sutures. The sutures are tightened and retied weekly until complete scalp closure is achieved. The pulley sutures can be used for rapid primary closure of scalp wounds up to 2.5–3.0 cm in diameter under local anesthesia. For scalp wounds larger than 3 cm, we have also found that pulley sutures can be progressively tightened yielding additional tissue expansion every week. Scalp wounds greater than 3.0 cm can be easily closed via primary repair and weekly tightening of pulley sutures without the need for flap reconstruction, traditional tissue expander placement, or second intention healing.

Rhinophyma graft for repair of the phymatous nasal ala

SURGICAL CHALLENGE Reconstruction of the nasal ala in the setting of rhinophyma poses a distinct challenge. Graft donor sites that match the sebaceous quality of the surrounding skin are limited. With moderate rhinophyma, the nasal tip can be used as the donor site for a thick split-thickness skin graft that is used to reconstruct the nasal ala. This simple technique combines nasal ala reconstruction and rhinophyma correction, providing a hidden donor site and an optimal aesthetic outcome.

Delayed Diagnosis of Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Lip: The Possible Role of Incidental Multinucleated Foreign Body Giant Cells

Herpes simplex and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can have similar clinical presentations due to overlapping lesional morphology. We describe the unusual case of a BCC masquerading as herpes labialis due to a possible false-positive Tzanck smear. The confounding diagnosis led to a failed trial of valacyclovir and subsequent loss of the patient for 1 year before the lesion was biopsied and diagnosed as a BCC. This case report highlights the importance of careful inspection of herpetic lesions and that further investigation should be pursued if the etiology is uncertain or if the treatment is not yielding the expected results.

Mohs Surgical Reconstruction Educational Activity: a resident education tool

Background Surgical reconstructive planning following Mohs surgery can be a difficult subject for dermatology residents to master. Prior research demonstrates that active learning is preferred and more effective compared to passive learning models and that dermatology residents desire greater complexity and volume in surgical training. We present a novel, active, problem-based learning tool for the education of Mohs reconstruction with the goal of improving residents’ ability to plan surgical reconstructions. Materials and methods The Mohs Surgical Reconstruction Educational Activity is an active, problem-based learning activity in which residents designed repairs for planned Mohs defects prior to surgery on an iPad application or on a printed photograph. The attending Mohs surgeon reviewed the reconstructive designs, provided feedback, guided discussion, and facilitated insight into additional issues requiring further review. Residents performed or observed the Mohs and reconstructive surgical procedures for respective repairs. Surveys were administered to participants before and after participating in the Mohs Surgical Reconstruction Educational Activity to assess the educational value of the activity. Survey responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. Results Mean participant-reported confidence in flap and graft knowledge, flap and graft planning, and flap and graft performance increased 1.50–2.50 Likert scale points upon completion of the Mohs surgery rotation by residents participating in the educational activity. The observed trend was larger in the dermatology resident subset, with increases of 2.00–3.50 Likert scale points reported for these questions. Mean participant-reported likelihoods of performing flaps and grafts in the future increased 0.25–0.50 Likert scale points among all residents participating in the educational activity and 0.50–1.00 Likert scale points in the dermatology resident subset. All residents participating in the educational activity somewhat or completely agreed with the statement, “I am faster at planning reconstructions after my Mohs rotation.” In addition, 88% of participants “somewhat or completely agreed” that the exercise was a good educational experience. Conclusion The Mohs Surgical Reconstruction Educational Activity is a valuable novel tool for learning reconstructive planning that is easy to incorporate into existing dermatology residency curricula, inexpensive, and utilizes active learning.

Nodular Fasciitis Complicating a Staged Surgical Excision of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an unusual spindle cell tumor with a high rate of local recurrence with traditional excision. Fortunately, Mohs micrographic surgery yields excellent cure rates for this neoplasm due to contiguous tumor spread and meticulous tumor mapping and margin analysis. We present the unique case of a patient treated with a modified Mohs technique with an analysis of the final margin with permanent sections, who developed a spindle cell neoplasm in the margins of her second stage excision consistent with nodular fasciitis. Distinguishing residual DFSP from a benign reactive process was an essential and challenging component of this patients management.

Partially de-epithelialized postauricular flap for ear reconstruction.

SURGICAL CHALLENGE The ear presents unique challenges in reconstruction, including the need to recreate distinct subunits of a complex 3-dimensional structure and cartilaginous framework. The postauricular flap is a workhorse flap for reconstruction of the scapha with exposed cartilage. A modification of the postauricular flap with distal de-epithelization can be used to reconstruct large defects of the scapha and augment helical rim volume.

Recreation of the alar crease using the inverted horizontal mattress suture technique

SURGICAL CHALLENGE Nasal ala defects after tumor resection require primary reconstruction of the alar crease to delineate the adjacent subunits: the nasal ala, nasal sidewall, and medial cheek. Effacement of the alar crease is more difficult to reconstruct secondarily and creates an unnatural webbed appearance. The inverted horizontal mattress technique is a simple method of creating a practically invisible scar for primary reconstruction of the nasal ala.