Excising basal cell carcinoma in general practice

Currently there is much interest in the general practice management of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Published research regarding its surgical management mainly pertains to tumours located on the head and neck. However, in my general practice experience, the majority of excisions came from other sites.

A retrospective audit of histopathology reports from 91 excisions of BCCs.

Thirty-nine percent of BCCs in this series were located on the head or neck, compared with 75-94% from other series; 50% of BCCs from the head/neck contained an aggressive histological subtype, compared with only 10% from other sites; four out of 139 papers found regarding surgical management of BCCs were from primary care practice.

Significant differences exist between the location mix and histological types of BCCs treated in general practice with those reported in the research literature. Treatments advocated by this literature may not be readily transferable to the general practice setting.