Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers of the Ear

BACKGROUND Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) of the ear can result in large defects with significant morbidity. OBJECTIVE To determine whether subanatomic location of NMSCs, based on ease of visualization of the ear, correlated with post-Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) defect size. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 142 post-MMS ear lesions was performed and categorized according to subanatomic location: the helix, antihelix, and tragus (Location 1); retroauricular (Location 2); and conchal bowl, scapha, and triangular fossa (Location 3). RESULTS The average defect sizes were 2.50 cm2 (Location 1), 5.76 cm2 (Location 2), and 4.03 cm2 (Location 3). Tumors in Location 1 were significantly smaller than those occurring in Location 2 (P