Abstract
Background Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Typically,
resection requires a safety margin of ≥4 mm. When removing tumor cells, achieving
complete excision with minimal safety margins and reconstructing the defect to preserve
the original appearance are important. In this study, we used a 3-mm resection margin
to confirm recurrence and re-resection rates.
Methods Electronic medical records and photographic data were obtained for patients with
primary BCC lesions less than 2 cm in diameter who underwent wide excision with a
3-mm surgical margin from January 2015 to November 2021. We analyzed factors determining
recurrence and re-resection rates, such as tumor size, location, age, sex, underlying
diseases (including immunosuppression state), ethnicity, subtypes, tumor borders,
etc.
Results This study included 205 patients. The mean age and follow-up period were 73.0 ± 11.5
years and 10.2 ± 8.0 months, respectively. The recurrence and re-resection rates were
1.95% and 25.85%, respectively.
A statistically significant correlation was found between recurrence rate and tumor
border (p = 0.013) and the re-resection rate was correlated statistically with location (p = 0.022) and immunosuppressed patients (p = 0.006).
Conclusion We found that a 3-mm excision margin provided sufficient safety in small facial BCC,
resulting in ease of surgery and better aesthetic outcomes.
However, surgical margins must be determined case by case by integrating various patient
factors. In particular, a surgical margin of ≥4 mm is required for BCC in high-risk
areas, immunosuppressed patients, or poorly defined border.
Keywords
skin cancer - excision margins - basal cell carcinoma - surgical flap - skin graft
