title: Reconstruction of a thumb defect with Integra following wide local excision of a subungual melanoma.
abstract: We present the case of a patient with a 1.2mm Breslow thickness subungual melanoma of the thumb who refused the standard treatment of amputation. He underwent a 1cm wide local excision of the lesion down to bone and the defect was covered with Integra and later grafted. The evidence for increasingly conservative treatment of subungual melanoma is growing. He remains disease free and is left with a fully functional thumb and a good cosmetic result.
authors.affiliation: St George Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK. elliott1940@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Smock
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Barabas
authors.forename: J L C
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Geh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013933:Thumb / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: C114835:integra artificial skin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen