Doctor Do Tuong Huan, from the Department of Breast - Head and Neck Surgery at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, reported that the skin lesion on the patient's right cheek measured about 1 cm, featuring irregular borders, a pale black color, and central ulceration. These characteristics are indicative of basal cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer among older adults.

Surgeons removed the lesion and performed a frozen section analysis of the margins using Mohs surgery. The results confirmed negative margins, ensuring the complete removal of the suspected cancerous mass. A local skin flap was used to cover the post-operative defect.

Doctor Huan explained that Mohs technique enables precise control over excision margins during surgery. This method, utilizing frozen section analysis, allows surgeons to quickly check for any remaining cancer cells. This rapid assessment helps them make informed decisions, ensuring complete tumor removal while optimizing cosmetic results and minimizing scarring for patients.

Doctor Huan (center) and his surgical team operate on Mr. Dung. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Following surgery, Mr. Dung recovered well with stable vital signs. Pathological examination confirmed the tumor as basal cell carcinoma, with all excision margins clear of cancer cells. The patient was advised to seek follow-up care if any unusual symptoms develop, such as swelling, severe pain, fever, or bleeding.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, frequently affecting middle-aged and older individuals with significant sun exposure. This disease progresses slowly and rarely metastasizes, though it can destroy surrounding tissues.

Doctor Huan advises adults against overlooking minor skin changes, such as the appearance of abnormal moles, moles that rapidly increase in size, or those with irregular shape, inconsistent color, bleeding, ulceration, or persistent oozing that fails to heal. If an abnormal mole is detected, seeking medical evaluation and histopathological examination at a hospital is crucial before considering any cosmetic procedures. Early-stage skin cancer is treatable with a high success rate, significantly reducing the chance of recurrence.

Minh Tam

*Patient's name has been changed