title: Recurrent morphean basal cell carcinoma of the skin. A clinico-histopathological study of 97 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Morphean basal cell carcinoma (BCC), is a distinct and aggressive skin cancer, usually requiring aggressive treatment from the start.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of the recurrences rate of morphean BCC and evaluation of significant prognostic factors for the clinical outcome of the neoplastic procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  97 cases of morphean BCC were reviewed through last three years and special attention was paid to sex and age of the patient, size, location, histology and recurrences rate of the tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a period ranged from two months to two years 14.8% of the cases recurred. The mean age of the patients was 64.4 years and there was slight women predominance (1.3/1). Morphean BCCs were observed mainly in nose (37.5%) and ear (12.5%) and showed an infiltrative growth pattern without inflammatory reaction (37.5%) in the histologic picture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphean BCC presents a high recurrence rate influenced by anatomic site, tumor histological appearance, tumor positive margins and type of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Department, Faculty of Health and Caring Professions, Technological Educational Institution (TEI), Athens, Greece. fanagnostopoulou@tecor.gr
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anthouli-Anagnostopoulou
authors.forename: Eftichia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hatziolou
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*