DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2015.v03i12.006

Pages: 1017-1019

Basal Cell Carcinoma typically occurs on the head and neck. Excision with clear margins is the primary goal of treatment. Involved surgical margins occur more frequently on the head and neck and may be related to surgical volume. All histology reports generated by the Toowoomba Base Hospital Department of Pathology in Queensland, Australia over an 18 month period confirming the diagnosis of BCC were reviewed. In results 483 histology reports from 22 hospitals were analysed. 75% of BCC were completely excised. Incomplete excision was related to volume (< 100 specimens), location on the head but not preoperative diagnosis. In conclusion Patients living in outlying areas with a Basal Cell Carcinoma located on the head should be referred to the nearest major hospital for surgical treatment. Keywords: Basal Cell Carcinoma, workload, margin, surgery