‘Now you see it⃛now you don‘t.’ Carmoisine vital dye facilitates complete removal of cutaneous neoplasia by intraoperative visual enhancement

K. D.J. Murphy, P. N. Hall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Patients presenting for excision of squamous cell carcinomata, including Bowen's disease, in sun-damaged skin often present with poorly defined, morphoeic or multifocal neoplasms, the extent of which can be difficult to identify intraoperatively. Use of vital staining has been commonly used to aid identification and appropriate excision of squamous lesions of the oral cavity and upper aerodigestive tract but has not been readily adopted for cutaneous lesions. We report a case of a morphoeic squamous cell neoplasm of the web space and fingers to illustrate the merits of vital staining cutaneous squamous neoplasms with the simple dye Carmoisine E122. This assists with intraoperative tumour identification and facilitates adequate oncological resection and appropriately planned reconstruction. By comparison with other methods such as Mohs, it is a simple, cheap, and rapid aid that may be used by surgeons of all grades to improve identification of the extent of the neoplasm, without special equipment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)611-613
Number of pages3
JournalBritish Journal of Plastic Surgery
Volume56
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bowen's disease
  • Carmoisine
  • Local tumour control
  • Skin neoplasm
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Vital stain

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology

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