Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40723254›Full record

ReviewCancers2025

Microsurgical Reconstruction with Free Tissue Transfer in Skin Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

Tito Brambullo, Stefano L'Erario, Francesco Marena, Roberta Carpenito, Alfio Luca Costa, Vincenzo Vindigni, Franco Bassetto

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tito BrambulloPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1041-9660
Stefano L'ErarioPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.
Francesco MarenaPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-2455-9589
Roberta CarpenitoPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.
Alfio Luca CostaPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6118-4278
Vincenzo VindigniPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6638-9010
Franco BassettoPlastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesThe gold standard of treatment for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers is wide surgical resection to obtain oncological radicality, which occasionally results in functional or aesthetic impairment, potentially affecting quality of life. Despite the increased complexity of the technique, extended duration of hospitalization, and prolonged surgical operative times, microsurgery can facilitate the reconstruction of locally invasive skin cancers following ablative surgery and may yield superior functional and aesthetic outcomes. Consequently, microsurgical reconstruction is more likely to be necessary if a large skin tumor requires excision. However, the impact of this extensive and complex procedure on patients with skin cancer has not yet been fully elucidated. The objective of this research was to critically analyze the utilization of free flap reconstruction subsequent to skin cancer therapy. Through a comprehensive examination of published data, this study aimed to assess the potential benefits and drawbacks associated with this reconstructive approach.

methodsA systematic review of studies that were published from January 2004 to May 2024 was conducted using the MEDLINE online database search. To present an evidence summary and provide a systematic approach and quality assessment, the GRADE

resultsThis review summarizes the oncological and clinical data, including previous interventions, adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies, nodal status, distant metastasis, and follow-up time. Surgical outcome parameters such as healing time, flap survival, revision rate success, and minor and major complications were documented. Along with the findings, a quality assessment of the studies was also provided.

conclusionsThis systematic review underscores the extensive use and efficacy of microsurgery for reconstruction after skin cancer excision; however, the literature remains limited by inconsistent reporting of oncological outcomes and the lack of a standardized approach to evaluate the impact of free flap reconstruction on both immediate and long-term cancer-specific results.

Indexed as

basal cell carcinomafree flapsfree tissue transfermelanomamicrosurgeryskin cancersquamous cell carcinomasurgery

Identifiers

PMID40723254
PMCPMC12293606

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.