Basal Cell Carcinoma

Amazing contribution in the surgical management of the most common human cutaneous malignancy "the basal cell carcinoma" described in the Hippocrates' book of Aphorisms (46BC)as "Ulcers lasting an year or longer cause the underlying bone to be eaten away and the resulting scars are depressed. 'What drugs will not cure, the knife will; what the knife will not cure, the cautery will; what the cautery will not cure must be considered incurable". Annually more million people are diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.The surgical treatment of BCC is a compromise between adequate excision and maximum healthy tissue preservation. The most effective treatment is surgical excision of the tumor along with macroscopically normal surrounding tissue (margin of safety). Complete excision of the basal cell carcinoma is the key to successful treatment. Incomplete excision is associated with higher rates of recurrence. At the same time it is also important to save the maximum normal tissue while achieving tumor free margins. The authors' work is aimed to test the 3 millimeter safety margin of surgical excision for the tumor clearance.