Clinical case of surgical treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma of the skin on the face

Introduction. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of non-melanocytic malignant tumors of the skin. The main treatment methods for this pathology are local methods such as surgery and radiation. In rare cases, basal cell carcinoma can become locally advanced and / or metastatic.

Aim. To demonstrate the possibility of reconstructive surgery for large defects after removal of locally advanced tumors of the face and describe a rare case of basal cell carcinoma metastasis into the regional lymph nodes.

Clinical case. The article presents a clinical case of treatment of basal cell skin cancer with metastases into the regional lymph nodes. According to the patient, tumor on the skin of the left cheekbone area first appeared in 2007. The patient did not seek medical help. In 2017, the tumor was resected at the local medical facility. In 2018, the patient noted repeat tumor growth. In November of 2021, when the patient first consulted at the Republican Clinical Oncological Dispensary of the ministry of Health of the Bashkortostan Republic, the tumor was 7 × 5 cm. Invasion depth was up to 1.5 cm, infiltration into the temporal and mastication muscles and destruction of the zygomatic bone were observed. On 18.11.2021 at Republican Clinical Oncological Dispensary of the ministry of Health of the Bashkortostan Republic, wide resection of the skin tumor with resection of the zygomatic arch, parotidectomy on the left with defect removal using anterolateral thigh flap was performed. per histological examination, basal cell carcinoma with lymphovascular and perineural invasion and advancement into the masticator muscle and zygomatic bone was diagnosed, as well as carcinoma metastases in 2 lymph nodes with advancement beyond the capsule.

Conclusion. Implementation of revascularization flaps significantly widens choices for surgical treatment of this patient group in a regional oncological dispensary and gives satisfactory esthetic results due to removal of large defects after surgical intervention.

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