Perineural and neural involvement in skin cancers.
BACKGROUND
Malignant skin tumors rarely spread along nerves. Complete resection of involved nerves is often unsuccessful.


OBJECTIVE
In the treatment of tumors with perineural invasion, surgeons should accurately estimate the extent of distant spread.


METHODS
We report six cases of skin cancers, including two basal cell carcinomas, two squamous cell carcinomas, and two neurotropic malignant melanomas, that invaded nerve or perineural spaces.


RESULTS
In three of the cases, the tumors developed on the face and involved the infraorbital nerves or its branches. Two patients suffered from tumors on old burn scars of lower legs. Branches of posttibal nerves were involved in both cases. In the last case, tumor invasion of a branch of the greater occipital nerve was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The extent of surgical excision should include the area of skin supplied by the affected nerve, which must be resected in continuity.
Terashi
H
H
Department of Dermatology, Oita Medical University, Japan.
Kurata
S
S
Tadokoro
T
T
Ishii
Y
Y
Sato
H
H
Kudo
Y
Y
Katagiri
K
K
Itami
S
S
Takayasu
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle / Q000473:pathology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006365:Heel / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009380:Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*