The cuticular purse string suture: a modified purse string suture for the partial closure of round postoperative wounds

BACKGROUND: The purse string suture can be used to provide primary closure for small skin defects or as a partial closure for larger round wounds. The size of the defect is reduced secondary to the tension placed on the suture, which uniformly advances the skin from the entire periphery of the wound. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the features of 98 consecutive patients for whom a total of 100 cuticular purse string sutures were used to partially close their postoperative surgical defects. The location and types of the tumors removed were also summarized. RESULTS: Postoperative wounds were created following Mohs' micrographic excision of nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, 44; squamous cell carcinoma, 25), wide local excision of melanoma (29), or conservative excision of benign cutaneous neoplasms (two). The incidence of purse string suture for partial closure of each tumor was 4.1% for basal cell carcinoma, 7.3% for squamous cell carcinoma, and 46.3% for melanoma. The tumors were equally distributed on the trunk, head and neck, and extremities; however, purse string closures for basal cell carcinomas were more frequent on the trunk, head, and neck, relative to squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas, which were more common on the extremities. Concurrent medical problems and/or the use of an agent with anticoagulant or antiplatelet effects were noted in more than 50% of patients. Absorbable material of thicker diameter was most frequently used for the suture, and the postoperative wound area decreased by 6-90% (mean, 60%) following purse string partial closure. The suture was usually removed after 3-4 weeks. Postoperative complications occurred in six patients: allergic contact dermatitis in two, wound infection in two, exuberant granulation tissue in one, and hypertrophic scar in one. All of the wounds healed completely with either a round or linear scar. CONCLUSION: The cuticular purse string suture is a rapid and simple procedure that provides complete or partial closure of round skin defects and excellent long-term cosmetic and functional results. This closure provides uniform tension to the wound, enhances hemostasis at the tissue edge, and significantly decreases the size of the defect. Partial wound closure with the purse string suture may be advantageous following the local excision of melanoma, either as definitive surgical wound management or as a temporary partial wound closure prior to subsequent complete repair of the surgical defect. The purse string suture is also useful following nonmelanoma skin cancer removal in patients who insist on maintaining an active lifestyle in the immediate postoperative period, who are receiving one or more systemic anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agents, and who have large surgical wounds that would require either a skin graft or a local cutaneous flap in order to close the postoperative defect.     

A finger-saving operation in squamous cell carcinoma of the right thumb. A case report

A 68-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the right thumb underwent a finger-saving operation. The lesion (2 X 2.3 cm) was located near the IP joint. There were no distant metastases. A wide local excision including the MP joint was performed, and the axillary lymph nodes were dissected. To avoid any loss of length the bone defect was treated with a 2.5-cm-long bone graft from the third rib. The skin defect was closed with a local flap. In the histological examination tumor cells reached the subcutaneous layer; the deeper layers and the bone were not involved. Two years after the operation neither local recurrence nor distant metastases were found and the function of the right hand was good. The good outcome of this case does not allow any general conclusion on the best treatment for such cases; but it does emphasize the difficulties of deciding on the treatment (amputation or excision) to be applied in this area.     

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in chronic perianal pyoderma a case report and review of Japanese literature

We report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma developing from fistules of chronic perianal pyoderma in a 49-year-old Japanese man. He first noticed an abscess and nodule on his buttocks and perianal area 21 year previously (at the age of 28); the fistules formed later. These fistules were surgically removed, and an artificial anus was constructed 14 years ago (at the age of 35) in our hospital, when a histopathological examination revealed no malignant changes. However, he was recently admitted to our hospital with arterial bleeding from the ulcer of the buttock. On admission, the histological diagnosis of the ulcer was well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Wide local excision of the ulcer and scar tissue, including the sacrum, was performed. The defect was covered with a left latissimus dorsi flap and skin graft. He received radiation therapy after the operation. However, he died of cachexia and pneumonia. This case indicated that the CPP would better have been treated with wide excision before the development of SCC. Therefore, we recommend careful follow-up of patients affected by CPP and repeated biopsies of the lesion, particularly when the condition is severe, longstanding, and extensive. We discussed the term "CPP" and reviewed 22 cases of SCC arising in CPP reported in the Japanese literature.     

拼接法等面积供皮修复皮肤巨大缺损

【摘要】 目的 探讨新的供皮区取皮方法,在获取较大面积全厚皮片的同时,可缩短供皮区宽度、减少缝合张力,缺损面可直接缝合闭合。方法 运用数学原理,在面积相等的条件下,设计错位供皮法,所取的皮片经拼接后即可形成较大面积皮片,满足修复大面积缺损的需要。用该方法治疗7例皮肤恶性肿瘤患者,头、面部5例,足部2例,包括基底细胞癌3例,鳞状细胞癌3例,恶性黑素瘤1例。 结果 供皮宽度缩小后,供皮区缺损能够直接拉拢缝合,同时也避免供皮区皮源的浪费。7例患者,头面部5例中,3例全部成活,2例边缘少许糜烂;2例足底部约10% ~ 20%坏死,经换药处理,1 ~ 2个月后愈合。 结论 修复较大面积皮肤缺损,拼接法等面积供皮是一种较好的选择。     

局部皮瓣修复面部基底细胞癌术后皮肤缺损

目的探讨局部皮瓣修复面部基底细胞癌(basal cell carcinoma,BCC)切除后皮肤缺损的临床效果。方法 62例基底细胞癌患者在全麻或局麻下,行皮损扩大切除,根据缺损的大小、部位、深度采取各种局部皮瓣修复创面,术后观察皮瓣成活及外观。结果 62例面部皮肤缺损,皮瓣修复成活良好、美观,达到了较理想的效果。结论通过局部皮瓣修复面部基底细胞癌术后皮肤缺损,结果满意,瘢痕不明显。     

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in an area of long-standing necrobiosis lipoidica

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma in an area of chronic ulceration is a well-documented phenomenon. However, its occurrence arising de novo in an area of necrobiosis lipoidica is rare. METHOD: We report a case in a 53-year-old female who presented with a 2 month history of an erythematous nodule occurring in a plaque of necrobiosis lipoidica on the medical aspect of the right lower leg. She had a background of poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes. RESULTS: Histopathological findings revealed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma overlying an area of necrobiosis lipoidica. Treatment was by excision and split-thickness skin graft. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of malignant transformation within a plaque of necrobiosis lipoidica. Early detection will allow conservative treatment.     

Three cases of malignant melanoma arising on burn scars

It is well known that up to 2% of chronic burn scar lesions can transform into malignant tumors. Most of them are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and, more occasionally, basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The incidence of malignant melanoma (MM) is extremely low. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 23 such cases reported in the literature. We report here three cases of MM arising on burn scars and analyze the 23 cases reported previously. Case 1: a 74-year-old Japanese man sustained a burn injury on about 54% of his whole body surface when he was accidentally bathed in boiling oil at the age of 37 years old. Some small tumors developed on the burn scar on his right lumbar region. A wide excision of the tumor was performed. Case 2: a 51-year-old Japanese woman was injured on her right forearm and face by deep burns from a flame when she was 7 months old. She presented with a rapidly growing, painless black nodule on the dark skin lesion on her right forearm. She was treated with a wide excision followed by a full-thickness skin graft. Intravenous administration of one unit of OK-432 every week has been continued. Case 3: a 73-year-old Japanese woman was burned on her left leg and hand from a flame when she was 6 years old. A nodular lesion appeared within the ulcer two months previously and it was growing rapidly. This lesion was ulcerated on the top of its central area and was slightly reddish without any pigmentation. The patient was treated with a wide excision and a split-thickness skin graft. The 5-year survival rate of MM in an old burn scar is 53.6%. It is suggested that the prognosis of burn scar carcinoma is not worse than that of non-burn scar carcinoma.     

Subunguales Plattenepithelkarzinom

A 63-year-old patient presented with a 12-month history of a subungual tumor on the right middle finger. The patient had had a similar lesion involving his left index finger 5 years ago, which was identified as a subungual squamous cell carcinoma. Except for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, the patient was in good health. Ablation of the nail plate, the nailbed and the matrix was performed. Histopathology confirmed another subungual squamous cell carcinoma. The patient received a full thickness skin graft. Subungual squamous cell carcinomas are among the most frequently reported types of subungual malignancies. However, subungual squamous cell carcinomas arising in more than one digit have been reported only rarely. The cause of subungual squamous cell carcinoma has not been clearly identified. Subungual squamous cell carcinoma has been associated with radiation, chronic infection, arsenic ingestion, HPV infection and trauma. None of these could be identified in our patient.     

Grouped skin metastases from laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and overview of similar cases

Cutaneous metastases from internal malignancies or primary skin cancers are uncommon, particularly in a grouped pattern. We report a 58-year-old man with a known case of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent radiotherapy after surgical excision of the tumor. Unilateral, grouped, red-brown, vesicle-like nodules appeared on his shoulder 9 months after the laryngeal surgery. The pathologic diagnosis of an excised nodule was metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.     

Aggressive intranasal carcinoma mimicking infection or inflammation

In a twenty-year period we have treated five patients with intranasal squamous cell carcinomas who initially were thought to have benign cutaneous disorders of the nasal skin. Advanced squamous cell carcinoma requiring total rhinectomy, often with extensive contiguous midface excision, was found in all patients. Three of these five patients died of their disease. In one patient, a red nose resembling acne rosacea was present. In the four others, chronic cellulitic or ulcerative cutaneous involvement was caused by squamous cell carcinoma. These cases emphasize the need for intranasal examination and appropriate radiologic studies to exclude intranasal carcinoma in patients with apparently unresponsive cutaneous nasal disease.     

Repair of surgical defects of the nasal pyramid

The nose is an area commonly involved in dermatological surgery. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma frequently affect the nasal appendix and its adjacent structures. There is a broad repertoire of surgical techniques for the reconstruction of this area, including direct closure, local and distant flaps, and grafts. Small surgical defects may be repaired by direct closure or second intention healing but local flaps and skin grafts from appropriate donor sites are frequently required after excision of tumors. Flaps have substantial advantages over grafts because they have their own blood supply and their viability does not depend entirely on the vascular bed of the surgical defect. Flaps offer similar skin in terms of color, texture and photoaging. Local flaps are essentially classified in several types: advancement, rotation and transposition. In this review we mention and graphically illustrate the reconstruction procedures from our own experience.     

Increased metastasis and mortality from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, squamous cell carcinoma behaves aggressively. Our purpose was to compare squamous cell carcinoma metastasis and mortality between patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and control subjects. Medical records were assessed retrospectively for 28 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who underwent surgical excision of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and for 56 matched control subjects. The rate of metastasis and mortality from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma were determined on a per-patient basis. Three of 28 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had metastasis and died of metastatic disease. No metastases or deaths occurred among the 56 control subjects. Compared with control subjects, chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma were more likely to have metastasis (P = .0031) and die of metastasis (P = .0033). No significant association was detected between metastasis and history of chemotherapy administration for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, surveillance for skin cancer and a decreased threshold for biopsy of suspect lesions are warranted.     

Humane Papillomvirus-assoziierte Warzen bei organtransplantierten Patienten

Human papillomaviruses infect the squamous epithelia of the skin and cause warts, and are occasionally found in squamous cell carcinomas. Since cell-mediated immunity plays a crucial role in the control of HPV-infections, organ transplant recipients, unable to mount an adequate T-helper 1 cell-mediated immune surveillance, frequently develop widespread and resistant induced warts. Skin tumors, especially squamous cell carcinomas, are the most common post-transplantation neoplasm. Warts, actinic keratoses and invasive squamous cell carcinomas are known to develop at the same time in the areas. The role of HPV in the development of invasive squamous cell carcinoma under immunosuppression, remains to be elucidated in respect to common risk factors and increased numbers of warts potentially indentifing patients at increased risk for carcinoma. We prospectively studied 1690 organ transplant recipients in the dermatology clinic at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, to evaluate risk factors being involved in the development of HPV-induced warts and to assess a potential association of with the development of non-melanoma skin cancers in this population. The cumulative incidence of warts steadily increased throughout the post-transplant years. The presence of more than 10 verrucae was associated with the development of actinic keratoses, invasive squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. This study shows clear evidence that certain risk factors of skin carcinogenesis in organ transplant recipient such as increased age at transplantation, a high dose of immunosuppression related to a specific type of graft and use of azathioprine or cyclosporine are strongly associated with an increased incidence of warts. Furthermore, HPV-induced verrucae vulgares could be used as a potential predictor for the development of coincidental non melanoma skin cancer in organ transplant recipients and therefore could serve as an early identification marker of skin cancer high-risk patients. The challenging management of warts in organ transplantation patients is reviewed.     

The keystone flap and its simplified version for malignant skin tumor defects of the lower limbs: A review of 25 cases

BackgroundSkin tumors commonly occur on the legs and are treated in first line by surgery. Several techniques are available to repair lower limb defects: secondary-intention healing, partial closure, primary closure with or without an s-plasty, or a skin graft. The lack of tissue laxity of the surrounding skin does not allow several local flaps (advancement, rotation, or transposition). Closing large skin defects at this site may be challenging.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed a series of consecutive patients undergoing malignant tumor wide excision on lower limbs, with a keystone flap or its simplified technique (releasing incision) for closure of a skin defect.ResultsTwenty-five patients, 17 women and 8 men, ranging from 19 to 95 years old (mean age: 70 years) were included. Keystone flap reconstruction on the lower limbs was performed in 19 cases and the simplified technique in 6. The excised tumors were as follows: squamous cell carcinoma (n = 6), basal cell carcinoma (n = 9), melanoma (n = 9) and Bowen's disease (n = 1). Three local complications were observed. No cases of recurrence were observed.ConclusionKeystone flap is a reliable surgical method for reconstruction of lower limb skin defects. Aesthetic results are better than when a skin graft is used, complications are uncommon, and prolonged operative time is avoided.     

Reconstruction of Skin Defects After Radical Excision of Anorectal Giant Condyloma Acuminatum: 6 cases

The authors report six cases of giant condyloma accuminatum and evaluate the use of mesh-skin grafts in covering the skin defect after radical local excision of perianal giant condyloma acuminatum. Medical records of six patients suffering from the giant condylomata acuminata and treated surgically at the Department of Surgery, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb, were examined. Use of mesh-skin grafts in covering the skin defect after radical local excision of GCA was compared to other methods of treating the skin defect after radical excision of perianal lesions such as secondary wound healing. Four patients were treated by radical local excision and two patients were treated by abdominoperineal resection. There were partial graft failures (satisfactory result) in all patients and complete healing took about 3 to 4 weeks from time of grafting. A mesh-skin graft was used to cover the skin defect. There were no recurrences, wound infections, wound bleeding, hypertrophic scars, or mesh-like skin appearance of the recipient site. Therefore a good cosmetic and functional result was achieved. Use of mesh-grafts in covering the wounds after radical excision of anorectal giant condylomata acuminata compares favorably to healing by secondary intention in terms of wound healing time, and gives good functional and cosmetic results.     

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the skin: a case with lymph node metastases at presentation

We report a case of a primary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the skin. The patient was a 73-year-old man with a lump on his back for 18 months. A biopsy and subsequent excision was performed. He also had axillary node clearance for metastatic disease. The tumor was composed of islands of pleomorphic cells with a lymphocytic infiltrate. Differential diagnoses included squamous cell carcinoma, adnexal carcinoma, Merkel cell tumors, lymphoepithelial lesions, lymphomas, and skin metastases. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were those of a LELC of the skin. It was negative for Epstein-Barr virus. Just over 30 cases of primary LELCs arising in the skin have been reported with only 1 documented fatality. We report a case with extensive vascular involvement and bilateral lymph node metastases.     

Cornu cutaneum

We report on 62 cases of cornu cutaneum. In contrast to the general opinion that the majority of these lesions arise on the basis of an underlying actinic keratosis or a squamous cell carcinoma, on histological examination we found actinic keratoses in only 25% and squamous cell carcinomas in only 3.2% of cases; 58% of all lesions were identified as common warts. We therefore recommend removal of these skin lesions by the shaving technique followed by electrodesiccation of the base. This has the advantage of supplying the histopathologist with a representative specimen for histological examination and avoiding an unnecessarily large surgical excision. In the rare cases of histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, these lesions can be excised in a second session.     

Carcinoma spinocellulare and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

Two cases of squamous cell carcinoma in patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma are presented, together with a survey of the rather sparse literature on this subject. The cases presented showed considerable differences in their course. The mutagenic effects of the therapies used against the lymphoma are claimed to be responsible for the development of squamous cell carcinoma in almost all the published reports. However, we think the disturbances of the immune system caused either by the lymphoma itself or by the therapy might be a decisive factor in the development of secondary tumors. This possibility is supported by a comparison of immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients, who frequently develop squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. Frequent clinical follow-up examination of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphomas and early biopsy of suggestive lesions seem mandatory for differentiation between squamous cell carcinomas and tumorous infiltrations of the primary lymphoma. Radical surgical excision, which allows histological examination of the tumor margins, is the therapy of choice for these frequently very aggressive squamous cell carcinomas.     

XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism, risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer and extramammary Paget’s disease in a Japanese population

The X-ray repair cross-complementing groups 1 gene plays an important role in base excision repair. At least three common single nucleotide polymorphisms frequently occur in this gene (Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His). Recent studies reported that these polymorphisms were associated with not only risk of visceral malignancy but also that of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, whereas the results of previous study vary among races. In this case-control study, we investigated whether these single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with the risk of skin cancer in a Japanese population. The study population was composed of 197 patients with skin cancer (27 actinic keratoses, 47 basal cell carcinomas, 27 squamous cell carcinomas, 29 Bowen's diseases, 46 malignant melanomas and 21 extramammary Paget's diseases) and 93 control subjects. We genotyped two single nucleotide polymorphisms (Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln) using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragments length polymorphism analysis. We found a significantly increased risk for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and extramammary Paget's disease associated with Arg194Trp [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.347, 3.587, 3.741, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.02-5.39, 1.19-10.8, 1.15-12.2, respectively]. We also found a significantly decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma associated with Gln399Gln (AOR = 0.259, 95 % CI 0.07-0.96). Our data suggest that the Arg194Trp polymorphism could be associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer and extramammary Paget's disease risk in a Japanese population.     

Pseudoepitheliomatous, keratotic, and micaceous balanitis: case report and review of the literature

Pseudoepitheliomatous, keratotic, and micaceous balanitis is a rare condition involving the skin of the glans penis that occurs in older men, most circumcised late in life. This condition is of uncertain malignant potential, and has been associated with progression to verrucous carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The etiology of this condition is unknown. Treatment depends on severity, and may range from topical treatment to surgical excision.