This patient had a recurrent, nodular basal cell carcinoma that had been treated repeatedly by her dermatologist with topical 5-flourouracil cream (5-FU). Her dermatologist had recommended surgery, but acquiesced to the patient’s desire to treat this skin cancer topically. 5-FU shows low cure rates for nodular basal cell carcinoma and may allow the tumor to grow undetected by treating the superficial part of the tumor and allowing normal skin to regrow over the deeper, untreated areas of the cancer.
Her dermatologist referred her to Dr. Morganroth for his expertise in Mohs surgery and reconstruction because this tumor involved the lateral eyebrow. Tumor removal would sacrifice the involved eyebrow and need a reconstruction that would not distort the periorbital area.
Mohs surgery was performed to provide the highest possible cure rate and minimal sacrifice of normal skin and eyebrow. Dr. Morganroth performed a flap or adjacent tissue transfer reconstruction under local anesthesia immediately following clearance of the skin cancer restore the area with minimal scarring.
