title: [Skin malignancies of the head and neck: numbers and surgical concepts].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A surgical concept for the excision of skin malignancies as applied in our department for years is presented and reevaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study analysed 82 patients treated surgically for basalioma and spinalioma of the head and neck between January 1997 and September 1999. The data are compared with three former studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high percentage of malignant skin tumours was primarily non-in-sano resected. Compared with the three former studies the number of skin malignancies is increasing. The statistics of Canton St. Gallen/Appenzell show the same trend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparing the one-stage procedure with the two-stage procedure, no significant difference was found regarding the incidence of residual tumor. This surgical concept allows reliable histological control of the tumour margins and precise resection of any residual tumour, and does not comprise the result of any plastic surgery to close the wound.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Ohren-Nasen-Halsheilkunde, Hals- und Gesichtschirurgie, Kantonsspital St. Gallen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vass
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wespi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology