Perichondrial cutaneous grafts for reconstruction of skin cancer excision defects.
BACKGROUND
Perichondrial cutaneous grafts (PCCGs) are composite grafts comprised of skin and subjacent perichondrium. Animal models and preliminary clinical reports have shown that PCCGs are thicker, survive better and contract less than full-thickness skin grafts, and are simpler to perform that alternative reconstructive methods such as two-stage flaps.


OBJECTIVE
The applicability of PCCGs to surgical defects following Mohs surgery was investigated.


METHODS
PCCGs were used to reconstruct patients with surgical defects following Mohs excision of skin cancers from facial sites near free anatomic margins and in defects with exposed cartilage.


RESULTS
A series of cases is described, all with good to excellent cosmesis and function.


CONCLUSIONS
PCCGs are useful in reconstruction of defects following Mohs excision of skin cancers.
Love
C W
CW
Section of Dermatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon New Hampshire 03756, USA.
Collison
D W
DW
Carithers
J S
JS
Ceilley
R I
RI
D000368:Aged; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods