RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Skin malignancy surgery

The most common malignant or neoplastic tumour affecting the skin of the face, eyelids and surrounding areas is Basal cell carcinoma, also known as rodent ulcer because of its tendency to slowly "eat" away at the normal tissue, reaching a size of up to several centimetres in diameter. Typically, it is a result of sunburn, particularly of young, fair complexions. As it is very slow growing are only rarely spreads elsewhere, it responds well to detection and early treatment. Some people may inherit the tendency to develop BCCs, and patients with Gorlin's syndrome are particularly prone to multiple basal cell carcinomas.

Basal cell carcinomas are painless but may ulcerate and bleed as they get larger. As it grows, a central ulcerated area may develop. Although they are not malignant, they spread locally, so the incidence of recurrence is low if completely removed surgically, they only rarely spread elsewhere, for instance, if morphoeic and diagnosed late, or are left to grow for too long.