Incomplete excision of basal cell carcinoma of the head region: analysis of 724 consecutive cases

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent cutaneous malignancy in Caucasians, accounting for about 80% of all non-melanoma skin cancers.1Annual incidence of BCC is constantly increasing worldwide, by up to 10% per year, with a highest prevalence among elderly and males. In about 80% of cases BCC occurs on the head and neck area, in 15% of cases on the trunk, and more rarely on upper or lower limbs. Complete surgical excision is the best of the therapeutic achievement in BCC treatment;3 however, radical excision is not always reached, especially when the head region is involved. The present study aims to assess the rate of incomplete excision among all primary BCCs of head region consecutively excised in Clinic of Dermatology, University of Pavia, Italy in four years period, and to analyze some of the main clinical and surgical features/variables that may influence the incomplete resection.