Recurrence risk of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid with regard to demographic and clinical patient data

Abstract Purpose: To describe the demographic features of patients affected by basal cell carcinomas of the eyelid and the clinical features of the tumors, as well as to examine the correlation between these features and the recurrence rate. Methods: This is a retrospective series of 118 cases of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid that underwent surgical excision between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2015. The inclusion criteria were a minimum follow-up of one year and a histopathological confirmed basal cell carcinoma. The study recorded demographic and clinical characteristics. These characteristics were then statistically analyzed to determine any significant correlation to the recurrence rate. Results: 20 patients (16.95%) experienced tumor recurrence, with one case recurring twice during the observation period. Out of 118 cases, all but two basal cell carcinomas presented clear resection margins after one or more excisions. None of the characteristics of the patients and basal cell carcinomas showed a significant correlation to the recurrence rate (p values Conclusion: Standard surgical procedures can achieve low recurrence rates, provided that the resection margins are clear. In a sample with a comparatively low rate of positive resection margins (1.69%) after the operation, none of the analyzed variables were found to significantly correlate with the recurrence rate. This highlights the importance of clear resection margins in the surgical therapy of basal cell carcinoma.