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Trends in the Presentation and Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinomas

ROENIGK, RANDALL K. M.D.¹; RATZ, JOHN LOUIS M.D., F.A.C.P.²; BAILIN, PHILIP L. M.D.²; WHEELAND, RONALD G. M.D., F.A.C.P.²

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¹ Randall K. Roenigk, M.D., was Fellow, Section of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. He is currently with the Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

² John Louis Ratz, M.D., F.A.C.P., Staff Physician; Philip L. Bailin, M.D., Chairman; and Ronald G. Wheeland, M.D., F.A.C.P., Staff Physician, are from the Section of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Oncology, Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Address reprint requests to Randall K. Roenigk, M.D., Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, 201st Street, S.W., Rochester, MN 55905.

The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology 12(8):p 860-865, August 1986. | DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1986.tb01993.x

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Abstract

Analysis of 1,620 basal cell carcinomas treated at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1981 to 1983 confirms that the majority of basal cell carcinomas occur on the face and that the relative risk for recurrent tumor is high in certain locations, especially the nose. Alternately, tumors found on the neck/scalp, trunk, and arms have a low relative risk of recurrence when compared to all other anatomic locations. More primary and fewer recurrent tumors now presenting to our unit have been referred for Mohs surgery as primary therapy. This results in higher cure rates for treatment of all basal cell carcinoma.