[Reconstruction of the medial canthus in oncology. Apropos of 105 cases over 9 years]

Abstract

Without forgetting that resection of a malignant tumour must always take priority over the problems of reconstruction, based on a series of 105 cases of medial canthus lesions, the authors believe that: for tumours with a reserved prognosis, particularly sclerodermiform basal cell carcinomas of the orbit, full thickness skin graft is the most appropriate technique; for cases with a good prognosis, the cosmetic result takes priority. An intersuperciliary island flap is currently the method of choice; for advanced cancers of the medial canthus, the combination of frontal flaps and nasolabial flaps is the procedure which gives the best aesthetic and functional results. This series includes three cases of radical orbital exenteration, including two because of sclerodermiform basal cell carcinomas, and the authors stress the very serious prognosis of these tumours in the orbit, especially in the presence of a recurrence in an irradiated territory.