| Title | Free flaps in the treatment of locally advanced malignancy of the scalp and forehead. | | Author(s) | McCombe D, Donato R, Hofer SO, Morrison W, Hofer S | | Institution | Department of Surgery, St Vincents Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria 3065, Australia. | | Source | Ann Plast Surg 2002 Jun; 48(6):600-6. | | MeSH | Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Carcinoma, Basal Cell
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Dermatofibrosarcoma
Disease-Free Survival
Female
Forehead
Head and Neck Neoplasms
Hemangiosarcoma
Humans
Male
Melanoma
Microsurgery
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Scalp
Skin Neoplasms
Surgical Flaps
Treatment Outcome
| | Abstract | Locally advanced cutaneous malignancy of the scalp and forehead is a disease that requires an aggressive approach to resection and reconstruction. Free flap reconstruction in these sites has been advocated because of the advantages of importing large amounts of well-vascularized tissue into a recipient site, which has often been compromised by previous surgery or radiotherapy. A consecutive series of 32 free flap reconstructions in 29 patients with cutaneous malignancy of the scalp and forehead was reviewed. The flap failure rate was 6% (two flaps) and the major complication rate was 10%. Of the surviving flaps, 97% (N = 29) were successful in reconstructing a challenging group of defects. Three patients developed local recurrence of the primary malignancy (mean follow-up, 21 months). The use of a broad repertoire of free tissue transfers in reconstruction of the scalp and forehead defects has allowed effective treatment of locally advanced malignancy of this region. Critical analysis of the results, however, indicates that microsurgical reconstruction is not without morbidity and that there are refinements in the diagnostic and operative steps of management that can maximize the functional and aesthetic results. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 12055428 |
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