title: An assessment of incomplete facial Basal cell carcinoma excision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate and cause(s) of incomplete excision of basal cell carcinoma, occurring on face.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-interventional, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plastic Surgery Unit, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from January 2002 to March 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with basal cell carcinoma of the face reporting to the OPD were included in the study and were booked for surgery. After excision, all tumors specimens were marked at 12 o'clock and sent to laboratory for histopathology to confirm the diagnosis and to know the completeness/incompleteness of tumor excision. If biopsy reported residual tumor in any of the margins it was noted and projected as percentage for the purpose of our results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 56 patients, 49 (87.5%) had complete excision of tumor. Six (10.7%) had residual tumor while in one (1.7%) patient, biopsy report failed to mention the involvement/clearance of margins. Six patients with residual tumor were given postoperative radiotherapy. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2-1/2 years (critical period for recurrence) with careful watch on those with residual tumor. So far, only 2 of these 6 had recurrence of lesion. Both of them were greater than 2 cm in diameter and were located on medial canthal and nasolabial region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chances of incomplete tumor excision are more on the mid face region. Patients with residual tumor are more prone to recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. shah_jee29@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Syed Asif
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.lastname: Obaidullah
authors.lastname: Fahimullah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome