Nasal Skin Cancers and Reconstruction

The nose is one of the commonest sites for skin cancer. The most common type is called a basal cell carcinoma, which primarily spread locally. Squamous cell carcinomas are less common, but are more serious as they have the added risk of spreading to the lymphatic system or through the blood, though this occurs only in a relatively small percentage of cases. Surgical removal is recommended with a surrounding cuff of normal tissue. The defect can be repaired by direct closure with stitches, or in certain cases may need a graft or flap to repair the tissues (a flap moves tissue from one part of the body to another).