title: Superficial basal cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are often considered a non-aggressive form of skin cancer, most often found on the trunk in younger patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the characteristics of superficial BCC of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for the treatment of a purely superficial BCC on the head and neck region was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Superficial BCC occurred more commonly in women (66.5%) than men (33.5%), most often on chronically sun-exposed skin such as the central face and nose. Women developed superficial BCC at a younger age than men (58 vs 63 years old, p = 0.02). The clinical sizes of the tumors were significantly smaller than the final Mohs defects for all locations on the head and neck, excluding ears and scalp. Recurrence rates after MMS were 3.6% despite negative histologic margins at the time of surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Superficial BCC are a unique subtype of BCC that tend to occur in younger patients, particularly women. Mohs surgeons need to be familiar with these tumors on the head and neck given their propensity for skip-lesions, higher recurrence rates, and significantly larger defect sizes than would be expected clinically.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors: Mary Alice
authors: MA
authors: Mina
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Picariello
authors: Jessica L
authors: JL
authors: Fewkes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies