This patient had a multi-year history of actinic cheilitis (precancerous changes of the lip mucosa) and had many years of liquid nitrogen treatment by his dermatologist. The actinic cheilitis was stabilized by the liquid nitrogen treatments but did not reverse the sun damage. After a localized area on the right lower lip kept bleeding with minor trauma, a biopsy was performed revealing early squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma arising on a lip is a serious diagnosis due to the higher risk of metastases on squamous cell carcinomas arising on the ear, scalp, eyelids and lip.
He was referred to Dr. Morganroth for Mohs surgery and reconstruction by his dermatologist. Reconstruction the lower lip can be challenging and often involves complicated procedures that involve multiple stages. Often, these multi-staged procedures create scarring in areas outside of the cosmetic zone of the lip mucosa (pink part of the lip). Dr. Morganroth was able to repair this defect with a flap (adjacent tissue transfer) contained entirely within the mucosal cosmetic unit resulting in no visible scarring on the cutaneous lip (skin part of the lip).
