title: Distribution of Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by facial esthetic unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common cutaneous malignant masses are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma. The predominant site of a malignant mass is the face, which has many opportunities to be exposed to ultraviolet radiation. However the predilection sites of malignant masses have been equivocal due to the use of general regions, rather than anatomical landmarks, in surveys. A facial esthetic unit is an anatomical site classified as an area of similar facial contour characteristics that can be distinguished from other areas. The purpose of this study is to determine widely accepted anatomical landmarks using the esthetic unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 118 cases of malignant masses in our clinic from January 2005 to October 2012. We evaluated the patients' age, gender, and predilection site of the malignant mass by esthetic unit through pathology, medical records and patient photographs. We mapped the occurrence site of the malignant mass on schematic drawings of the esthetic units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the malignant masses were BCC. The ratio of males to females was 1:1.41. The frequent predilection site of a malignant mass was on the nasal unit (33.1%), followed by the buccal unit (11.0%). Primary closure was the most common method of repairing a surgical defect (38.9%), followed by a local flap (35.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review described the relationship between clinical characteristics and esthetic units by proposing objective predilection sites for malignant masses, which can be used commonly as a framework in the study of malignant masses by unifying equivocal occurrence sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Young Woong
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Carcinoma, basal cell; Carcinoma, squamous cell; Esthetics
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