Scalp reconstruction following excision of malignant tumors in Southeastern Nigeria

• Published in: Nigerian journal of medicine 2023-05, Vol.32 (3), p.309-313
• Main Authors: Okwesili, Obinna, Achebe, Uchechukwu, Onumaegbu, Okechukwu, Mezue, Wilfred, Chikani, Mark, Onyia, Ephraim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; malignant scalp tumors; reconstructing scalp defects; scalp reconstruction; tumors of the scalp
• ISSN: 1115-2613; 2667-0526
• DOI: 10.4103/NJM.NJM_32_23

Background: Malignant scalp tumors are not common and constitute a small percentage of all scalp tumors. Reconstruction of the scalp defects following oncological resection presents peculiar challenges. Aim: The aim of the study is to report our experience in reconstructing scalp defect of varying sizes after the excision of malignant tumours using a variety of techniques. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients who had scalp reconstruction after oncological resections from June 2010 to May 2014 (four years) at our teaching hospital in the South-east of Nigeria. Data on the demographics, nature of the scalp tumors, site, size of the defects, mode of scalp reconstruction, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: Of the 17 patients who had scalp reconstruction, 29.4% of them were men and 70.6% were women (M:F = 5:2). The mean age of the patients was 41.2 ± 4.98 years (range: 19-85 years). The majority of the patients (47.1%) were young adults between 20 and 40 years, and the least involved age group (11.8%) was 13-19 years. The most common etiology of malignant scalp tumors was squamous cell carcinoma (52.9%). The temporal region was the most common site (41.2%) affected. Most of the defects were between 6.1 and 9.0 cm in diameter, followed by defects that were