Margin

The most common skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and the gold-standard treatment for high-risk tumours is Mohs surgery. However, alternative methods are needed for high-risk tumours in countries where the performance rate of Mohs surgery is low. The objective of this article is to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of margin-controlled, staged surgical excision (MCSSE) in high-risk tumours as a possible treatment alternative. A retrospective cohort study, including patients diagnosed with high-risk BCC in the head and neck region and treated with MCSSE between 2003 and 2010, was conducted. During the study period 50 tumours in 47 patients were treated, with low adverse event rates and high patient satisfaction rates. Of the 50 tumours, 1 recurred at the 12-month follow-up. Despite the small sample size and relatively short follow-up period, the present study shows that MCSSE might be a feasible alternative for the treatment of high-risk BCCs in institutions where Mohs surgery is not performed. Future studies on long-term recurrence rates are needed