title: Basal cell carcinomata: Risk factors for incomplete excision and results of re-excision.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Re-excision of incompletely excised basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) can be unsatisfactory in the absence of residual tumours. Recommended guidelines do suggest re-excision as a treatment modality; however, its value has been questioned due to low or variable residual tumour presence. We analysed the incomplete excision and re-excision rates and the presence of residual tumours over an 18-month period in a single unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using pathology results and case notes, 2586 primary excisions of BCCs in 1717 patients were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incomplete excision rate was reported to be 7.1% (184/2586). Excision of a lesion by multiple excision lesion procedure was associated with a higher rate of incomplete excision when compared to single lesion excision procedure (61.5% vs. 38.5%). Of the incompletely excised BCCs, 33.6% (62/184) were re-excised, of which 62.9% (39/62) had residual tumours. Although the figures are small, most anatomical sites examined had a residual tumour presence >50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After evaluating each patient individually, considering the high residual tumour rate, re-excision of an incompletely excised BCC would be a worthwhile procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Imperial NHS Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: dhalia.masud@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masud
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE 1 7EH, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moustaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Imperial NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Staruch
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead RH19 3DZ, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dheansa
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D000072662:Margins of Excision; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Incomplete excision; Non melanoma; Skin cancer