Clinical factors predictive for histological aggressiveness of basal cell carcinoma: A prospective study of 2274 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Since surgery is the first-line treatment for basal cell carcinomas (BCC), the histological aggressiveness of the disease must be clinically predicted in order to apply optimal safety margins that ensure a high rate of complete resection while minimising the risk of recurrence. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical predictive factors of histological aggressiveness of BCC, we conducted a national prospective multi-centre study. METHODS: All consecutive patients presenting for BCC surgery were included, and standardised clinical data collected, and slides were submitted for review. Trabecular, micronodular and morpheaform BCCs were classified as aggressive. RESULTS: Of the 2710 cases included, 2274 were histologically confirmed. Clinical subtyping was correct in 49.9% of superficial BCCs, 86.2% of nodular BCCs and only 22% of aggressive BCCs. By multivariate analysis, aggressive BCCs were more frequently ulcerated (45%), indurated (70%), showed adherence (8.6%), and were associated with high-risk anatomical zones (50.3%, P<0.0001). These predictive clinical features may be helpful for decision making.

Horizontal stretching concept in oncologic dermatologic surgery of the face.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer surgery is usually performed on the face, and more specifically on and around the midfacial apertures. Each defect generated by the exeresis of a face tumor can be repaired by various advancement, rotation or transposition flaps techniques. Therefore the choice of the closure axis of a defect and its cicatricial and orificial consequences is decisive. RESULTS: The closure of a defect is usually made by symmetrically suturing its edges, across the incision axis according to the rule of halves. However, the closure axis of a defect is intentional and characterized by the subcutaneous suture axis which determines the induced tension orientation, and thus the possible displacement of the aperture free margins. The horizontal stretching principle guarantees the lack of impact on the 3 major apertures of the midfacial frame: eye, nostril and mouth. CONCLUSIONS: This biomechanical concept is decisive to repair midfacial defect with functional and aesthetic results. It also provides objective arguments for the reparative techniques prioritization and the ability to codify those to be recommended as first-line treatment in the surgical management of the face cutaneous tumours.

[Complications of laser facial resurfacing]. / Complications des abrasions du visage par laser.

Laser resurfacing is a burn of the superficial skin layers: it's a controlled burn in its depth, that can destroy epidermis and the dermis superficial part, but not deeper for avoiding healing complications. All complications and the normal postoperative follow-up can be explained by the fact that laser resurfacing is a burn of the dermis and epidermis, with the destruction, partial or total, of their components. It's essential to understand the normal postoperative process and complications to avoid them and to treat them in the beginning. Infection, persistent erythema, pigmentation troubles like hyperpigmentation or depigmentation and demarcation surrounding the resurfacing area, healing troubles like hypertrophic scarring, keloids, excess of skin retraction are the main complications. Careful preoperative explanation of laser-resurfacing follow-up will help the patient adjust more easily to postoperative care.