Features of recurrence of basal cell carcinoma of the scalp

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm in humans. The cause of local recurrence after radical treatment remains unknown. AIM: The work aimed to identify prognostically significant factors for the development of recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the skin. METHODS: Study involved 100 patients. We analyzed clinicopathological data from 100 cases of BCC, including 50 cases of newly diagnosed basal cell carcinoma of the scalp and 50 cases with recurrent disease. The recurrence of basal cell carcinoma of the scalp and a primary skin tumor were investigated by histological examination. For this work we used the material obtained after treatment of patients. RESULTS: The incidence of BCC recurrence on the nose was four times higher compared to other localizations. Recurrence on the nasal skin occurred in 21 cases; in 29 patients, recurrence was observed when BCC was localized on the skin of the scalp (n = 3), auricle (n = 3), frontal (n = 4), periorbital (n = 8), temporal (n = 2), buccal (n = 7), zygomatic (n = 1), and lip areas (n = 1). Recurrence of BCC in the frontal area was detected 24 months after treatment; with a tumor infiltration depth of 15.1–20 mm, recurrence occurred at 36 months; in the multicentric variant of BCC, recurrence was noted at 24 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic criteria for BCC recurrence may include localization on the nasal skin, multicentric BCC, BCC originating from skin adnexa, and an infiltration depth of 15.1–20 mm.