title: Recurrence rates of treated basal cell carcinomas. Part 1: Overview.
abstract: This is the first article in a series reviewing the extensive experience of the Oncology Section of the Skin and Cancer Unit, from 1955 through 1982, with 5755 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) treated by curettage-electrodesiccation, surgical excision, or x-ray therapy. Recurrence rates were calculated by three methods for each of the treatment modalities: 1) by the raw recurrence rate method; 2) by the "strict" 5-year recurrence rate method; and 3) by modification of the life-table method. Our analyses show that the last method best approximates the true recurrence rate. Primary (previously untreated) BCCs had a 5-year recurrence rate of 10.6% (standard error 0.6%), and previously treated BCCs had a rate of 15.4% (standard error 1.3%) (P = .0002). The greatest risk for recurrence of treated primary BCCs occurred 1 to 4 years after therapy. It is concluded that recurrence rates of primary BCCs should be reported separately from those of previously treated BCCs and that the modified life-table method is best suited to calculate 5-year recurrence rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kopf
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Grin
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bart
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Levenstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003475:Curettage; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors