[Skin neoplasms of the face--diagnosis and possibilities of surgical treatment].

Experiences are presented based on the observation and treatment by surgical methods of 360 patients with facial cutaneous carcinoma in a period of 16 years. The group comprised 57% men and 43% women. Over half the patients had the lesions situated on the nose. In the remaining cases the tumour developed on the cheek (19%), temple (11%), eyelids (6%), forehead (5%) and skin of the lips (3%). Particular therapeutic difficulties were encountered in cases of lesions situated in the medial angle of the palpebral fissure. In 3 cases extensive craniofacial resection with orbitectomy was done for advanced malignant lesions. In 71% of cases basal cell carcinoma was the cause, and in 29% spinocellular carcinoma was diagnosed. Metastases to regional lymph nodes removed during the operation were demonstrated in 16 cases, exclusively caused by spinocellular carcinoma. The problem of surgical safety margin and the main problems of reconstructive procedures in surgical treatment of facial cutaneous carcinoma are discussed.