Abstract: Zhang Bin. Department of Dermatologic Surgery, Dalian Skin Disease Hospital, Dalian 116021, China 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three operational strategies for the management of elliptical-like benign skin lesions such as nevus, verrucous nevus, tattoo, cutaneous scar, and so on. Methods Seventy-one patients with elliptical-like benign skin lesions were included in this study, and randomly divided into three groups to be treated by three operational strategies respectively: single spindle-shaped excision and direct suture, one or more times of star-shaped excision within lesions followed by final spindle-shaped excision and suture, one or more times of S-shaped excision within lesions followed by final spindle-shaped excision and suture. The efficacy of operational strategies was evaluated by the ratio of the length of postoperative scar to that of the corresponding preoperative lesion. The clearance capacity was determined by repeated histopathological examination of lesions removed. Results Of the 71 patients, 23 were managed by spindle-shaped excision and direct suture with the average ratio of the length of postoperative scar to that of preoperative lesion being 2.34, 25 by star-shaped excision and suture with the average ratio being 0.90, and 23 by S-shaped excision and suture with the average ratio being 1.10. No evidence of malignancy was shown by the repeated pathological examination of resected tissues. Conclusions Both star-shaped and S-shaped excision can result in satisfying cosmetic outcomes with favorable clearance capacity in patients with elliptical-like benign skin lesions, but repeated operations are required.

Key words: Nevus, pigmented, Skin diseases, Reconstructive surgical procedures, Surgery, plastic