Risk of another basal cell carcinoma developing after treatment of a basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
There is an increased risk of new basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) developing in a person who has had a BCC.


OBJECTIVE
This study attempts to define the magnitude of this increased risk.


METHODS
The charts of 260 white patients with a histologically proven BCC were reviewed for the occurrence of new BCCs. The cumulative 5-year incidence (modified life-table method) for new BCCs developing in these patients was compared with the 5-year incidence in the general white population of the United States.


RESULTS
Of the 260 patients, new BCCs developed in 137 within an average of 38.3 months, a 5-year cumulative rate of one or more new BCCs of 45.2%. The yearly risk for new BCCs developing in the study population remained high during the 5-year interval. In the general white population of the United States, the maximal 5-year incidence was calculated to be 5% (p < 0.005, chi-square test).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a history of BCC require life-long follow-up because of the high probability of new BCCs developing.
Marghoob
A
A
Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine.
Kopf
A W
AW
Bart
R S
RS
Sanfilippo
L
L
Silverman
M K
MK
Lee
P
P
Levy
E
E
Vossaert
K A
KA
Yadav
S
S
Abadir
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology