Periocular basal cell carcinoma: 5-year outcome following Slow Mohs surgery with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections and delayed closure.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the 5-year outcome of periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) managed by Mohs surgery using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections (Slow Mohs).


METHODS
This was a prospective, non-comparative, interventional case series of all patients with periocular BCC treated by Slow Mohs in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, between 1985 and 1999. Data collected included demographic information, indication for Slow Mohs, tumour site, histology, recurrence rate after 5 years and cosmetic outcome.


RESULTS
Of 287 BCCs in 278 patients, 5-year follow-up data were available for 173 (60.2%). Recurrence following Slow Mohs occurred in one patient: 0.34% of total and 0.58% of those with 5-year follow-up. The main indication for Slow Mohs was most frequently due to the tumour site. Cosmetic outcome was deemed excellent in 56%, good in 18%, adequate in 8%, unknown in 14% and revision advised in only 4%.


CONCLUSIONS
The low 5-year recurrence rate (0.58%) reported in this prospective series confirms the importance of margin-controlled removal of recurrent, poorly defined or critically sited BCCs, and illustrates that Slow Mohs is equivalent to standard Mohs. While delayed closure does not appear to compromise cosmetic outcome, this technique offers a histologically superior and cheaper alternative to frozen-section Mohs surgery.
Morris
D S
DS
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK. dsm@doctors.org.uk
Elzaridi
E
E
Clarke
L
L
Dickinson
A J
AJ
Lawrence
C M
CM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004954:Esthetics; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde