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Facial Plast Surg 2023; 39(02): 155-159
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1756466
Original Research

Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck—A Retrospective Single-Centre Comparison of the Recurrence Rate after R0 or R1 Resection

Petar Stankovic    *
1   Department Otolaryngology, Head/Neck and Facial Plastic Surgery, Sana Kliniken Leipziger Land, Borna, Germany
,
Robert Bock   *
2   Department Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Elblandklinikum Riesa, Riesa, Germany
,
Stefan A. Rudhart
3   Department Otolaryngology, University Hospital of the Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
Stephan Hoch
3   Department Otolaryngology, University Hospital of the Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
Thomas Wilhelm 
1   Department Otolaryngology, Head/Neck and Facial Plastic Surgery, Sana Kliniken Leipziger Land, Borna, Germany
4   Medical Faculty, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding This project was funded entirely by the Department of Otolaryngology, Head/Neck & Facial plastic Surgery at the Sana Kliniken Leipziger Land, Germany.
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Abstract

The treatment guidelines for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) postulate complete surgical excision using microscopically controlled resection (MOHS) as the gold standard. The need to obtain a small safety margin in the complex anatomical area of the head and neck is very challenging due to the individual characteristics (localization, histology, and size) of tumors and the fact that the postoperative loss of quality of life depends on the surgical defect size. The R1 status is histopathologically defined when the safety margin is less than 1 mm even if there are no tumor cells actually infiltrating the resection margin. Therefore, some studies have already favored a watch-and-wait-strategy in R1 situations. We aimed to evaluate the outcome and recurrence rate of resected BCCs of the head and neck, especially in a histologically proven R1 situation. The outcomes of all resected BCCs observed during a 5-year period (January 2009–December 2013) in a tertiary care center were analyzed. Our standard operating procedure was microscopically controlled surgical excision with reresections until an R0 situation was achieved. In selected patients, an R1 status has been accepted after at least two resections. From the included 191 BCCs, the R1 status was accepted as the final result in 46 (24.1%) cases which had surgically clear margins and were closely followed-up. From 54 patients in the R0 and 40 patients in the R1 group who completed the follow-up (2.4 ± 0.4 years), we observed 0 and 2 local recurrences, respectively (p = 0.19). In cases where frequent follow-up can be secured and the surgical area is delicate, a surgical closure at R1 status can be justified as the recurrence rate is not significantly higher compared with R0.

Keywords

basal cell carcinoma - head and neck - R0/R1 resection - watchful waiting

Ethical Approval

All procedures involving human participants in this study were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional and/or National Research Committee and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study passed an evaluation of the Ethical Committee of the Saxonian Chamber of Physicians. Data handling was in accordance with national data protection laws and the anonymity of the patients was secured.


Informed Consent

Informed consent regarding the data analysis was obtained from all individual participants included in the study by means of the treatment contract.


Compliance with Ethical Standards

This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Saxonian Chamber of Physicians (approval no.: EK-BR-103/18–1, 08.01.2019). Data handling was in accordance with national data protection laws.


* Petar Stankovic and Robert Bock are both first authors since the idea, conception, and execution of the project derives from them both.




Publication History

Article published online:
07 November 2022

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