Requirement of re-excision in surgical margin positive basal cell carcinoma cases without macroscopic residual lesions (our experience of 714 cases and a review of the literature)

Abstract

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a local aggressive tumor, which almost never metastasizes. In this study, we investigated the results of our BCC cases in the last 9 years. Objective: The aim of this study was to better understand the re-excision requirements in positive surgical margin BCC cases. Methods: Seven hundred fourteen patients operated between 2012 and 2021 were included in the study. Localization, subtype, and re-excision results were investigated. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive analysis was performed. Results: The mean patient age was 66.9 years (range = 17–98 years). The most common localization for BCC was nasal region (n = 235), and the most common histopathological subtype was nodular (n = 298). Seventy-eight patients had positive margins following the excision. Thirty-eight re-excisions were performed. Thirty-one re-excisions revealed scar without any residue tumor. None of the 78 cases with positive surgical margin returned with a relapse. Conclusion: We evaluated the reliability and efficiency of our excision limits with the pathological evaluation. We achieved significantly high cure rates, even by reducing our excision margins up to 1 mm in critical anatomical structures.