title: Giant basal cell carcinoma of the face: surgical management and challenges for reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Giant basal cell carcinoma, in which the tumour measures 5 cm or greater in diameter, is a very rare skin malignancy that accounts for less than 1 per cent of all basal cell tumours. Very few studies have reported on the incidence, resection and reconstruction of this lesion worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 17 patients with giant basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck region underwent surgical excision and reconstruction at our hospital. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lesion was usually in the forehead, eyelid, lips or nasal-cheek region. The greatest diameter ranged from 5 to 11 cm, with 5-6 cm being the most common size at the time of presentation. All patients had their tumour resected and reconstructed in a single-stage procedure, mostly with a local advancement flap, and with no post-operative flap failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Giant basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck can be successfully treated with a local flap in a single-stage approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,Urumqi,Xinjiang,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maimaiti
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,Urumqi,Xinjiang,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mijiti
authors.affiliation: Marmara Eye Center,Sakarya,Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yarbag
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,Urumqi,Xinjiang,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moming
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Basal Cell Carcinoma; Dermatologic Surgery; Facial Neoplasms; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures