Clinical and pathologic parameters predicting recurrence of facial basal cell carcinoma: a retrospective audit in an advanced care center

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the associations between clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic parameters of facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and recurrence rates in patients treated at an advanced care center.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Patients who presented to an advanced care center within a 6-year period with facial BCC and who received surgical treatment were included for further review according to predefined inclusion criteria. The predictor variable was defined as "negative-margin (R0) resection after the first surgery". The primary outcome variable was defined as "BCC recurrence". Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05.

Results: A total of 71 patients (29 female, 42 male; average age: 71.76 years) were found to meet all of the study inclusion criteria. All BCCs had been referred, and 50.7% had been submitted to previous surgery. The mean ± standard deviation tumor diameter was 2.3 ± 1.8 cm. Recurrence of BCC was observed in 11 patients (15.5%). Large tumor diameters, increased patient age, and failure to achieve R0 resection at the first surgical appointment significantly increased recurrence rates.

Conclusions: Complete facial BCC excision at the first surgical appointment is pivotal in reducing the likelihood of recurrence. The influence of the anatomic location of facial BCC on recurrence rates may be limited.

Keywords: early detection; skin cancer; skin cancer prevention.