Abstract
The patient was a 75-year-old male who had had a congenital small mole on his right nasal ala. Ten years previously, the mole became tumor-like and began to invade the surrounding tissue. A series of treatments including radiation were without effect, and when he was first examined in our clinic his right upper facial region had been almost completely destroyed. Histological examination revealed the lesion to be basal cell carcinoma.
Radical surgery including right ophthalmectomy was performed. No recurrence and local metastasis were observed until he died one and a half years later.
Through the experience of this case the authors concluded: Since basal cell carcinoma of the facial skin shows very mild extension without metastasis, early surgery is the treatment of choice, and the resulting defect on the face can be easily treated by plastic surgery at this stage. When the surgery is not readily performed, massive destruction of the tissues takes place and the reconstruction surgery becomes impossible.
