[Surgical removal of the lip vermilion in the treatment of lip carcinoma; experience in 8 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of lipshave surgery in patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the lip, with actinic changes. DESIGN: Descriptive. SETTING: Medical Centre, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. METHOD: The histories were studied of 8 patients with carcinoma of the lip treated in 1988-1992 with lipshave surgery, if necessary in combination with a wedge excision. Postoperative results and lip function were observed; follow-up was from 9 to 53 months. RESULTS: Two patients died prematurely from another cause than the lip cancer. In the other patients there were no signs of recurrence of the carcinoma. Although all patients had decreased lip sensibility, lip functions were fairly intact: 2 patients complained of drooling at times or rarely, 1 drooled often and 3 never. For 1 patient speaking had become a little more difficult, in the other 5 cases it had not changed. The drinking test was performed properly in all cases. CONCLUSION: Lipshave surgery is a reliable treatment for lip carcinoma with actinic changes and also preserves the lip functions.