title: Paradigm change in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer of the auricle: reconstruction with full thickness skin grafting instead of wedge excision.
abstract: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has become an epidemic disease and is predominantly located in the head and neck area. While historically auricular NMSCs are treated by means of a wedge excision, we describe a more elegant technique with excellent esthetical results. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 43 consecutive patients with NMSC of the auricle who underwent reconstruction with a full thickness skin graft (FTSG). All grafts survived. Two patients (5%) showed crust formation, but fully recovered. One patient had an irradical resection for which he required a limited re-excision. All patients showed excellent esthetical results. When treating NMSC of the auricle, reconstruction with a FTSG demonstrates several important advantages. It is a relatively simple but oncological safe technique; it leads to excellent esthetical and functional outcomes, and shows high patient and surgeon satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, marijepetersen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Borggreven
authors.forename: V C M
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Koot
authors.forename: M J A M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tegelberg
authors.forename: P J F M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lohuis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome