Excision margin of T3 basal cell carcinoma in maxillofacial area: A retrospective cohort study of Asians

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer, was estimated in 4.3 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year (Rogers et al., 2015). Although rarely fatal, BCC will diminish the quality of life by devastating aesthetic and psychosocial sequelae, and functional impairment especially in maxillofacial area. In addition, being located in maxillofacial area, BCC is more likely to be classified as "high risk" for the difficult anatomical site (so-called H zone; Cole et al., 2019). However, the treatment of BCC, particularly in advanced stage of high risk, is an area where high-level evidence guiding management is lacking, and the standard surgical margin has not yet been completely determined. Appropriate treatment paradigm is demanded for minimizing the risk of recurrence and preserving facial cosmetics and function.