Surgical management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

A retrospective audit was made of histological records and hospital case no tes of patients who had cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas excised from the head and neck region at the Maxillofacial Units at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester and Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-By-Sea, UK. A total of 227 les ions were excised from 183 patients over a 5-year period between 1990 and 1 995. The local recurrence rate was 4% (9/227) and 12 (7%) of the patients p resented with or developed regional nodal metastases. Of the 183 patients, 177 (97%) were cured. These rates compare favourably with those of other pu blished series of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma managed by surgical tec hniques that did not follow the micrographical technique of Mohs, Certain c haracteristics may aid in the prediction of those cancers that may be more aggressive. It is important to evaluate each case in terms of histological grade and site and to design management plans to deal with each lesion in t he most appropriate way. (C) 2001 The British Association of Oral and Maxil lofacial Surgeons.