Reconstructive surgery in advanced perioral non-melanoma skin cancer. Results in elderly patients.

Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) of the perioral region is not uncommon. Basal cell carcinoma is predominant in the upper lip area and squamous cell carcinoma in the lower lip area. While smaller lesions can be treated by excision followed by primary closure larger defects after tumor surgery can be challenging.

Objectives: Analysis of outcome after complete surgical excision with micrographical control of excision margins (delayed Mohs surgery) of large NMSC's of the perioral region (lips and chin).

Patients and methods: This is a retrospective, single-center analysis of patients with defects after delayed Mohs surgery of ≥ 3 cm of the perioral region. The study included a total of 25 patients (4 women and 21 men) with a mean age of 83.7 years. Twenty patients were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and five had basal cell carcinoma. The lower lip was affected in 19 patients, the upper lip in 4 patients and the chin in 2 patients. Tumor stage was either T1N0M0 or T2N0M0. The most common procedure for lower lip defect closure was staircase or modified staircase technique. Cheek advancement flaps were used for upper lip defect closure. Inferiorly based nasolabial rotational flap, cheek rotational flap and modified Webster flap were also employed. In one patient Webster flap and unilateral staircase technique were combined.

Results: In all patients the tumor was removed completely with preservation of function and aesthetics. No local recurrence was observed after a median follow-up of 4.9 years.

Conclusion: Perioral reconstruction after removal of large NMSC is a complex issue. The age group of over 70 years, frequently with comorbidities, requires a robust surgical technique with short operation times and tailored approaches for defect closure.