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Basal cell carcinoma of the nasolabial fold: an apparently 'benign' tumour that often needs complex surgery
L Garcia1, E Nagore, B Llombart
1Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, Valencia, Spain.
Background:
Location of the tumour is a well-known prognostic factor for recurrence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). We have observed that tumours located in the nasolabial fold may deserve a particular attention.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the behaviour of BCC located on the nasolabial fold in comparison to a control group of patients with BCC in lower risk sites, and to detect characteristics which may imply a more complicated treatment or the consideration of adjuvant treatment.
Methods:
A series of 24 patients with BCC located on the nasolabial fold were retrospectively recruited from our database of Mohs surgery from January 1997 to December 2000. A control group of 37 patients with BCC located on the cheek or forehead were selected from the same database. The differences between both groups in clinical, surgical and histological terms were evaluated.
Results:
BCC on the nasolabial fold presented with shorter evolution time from first symptom, had a smaller size, had been less frequently treated before and showed mostly non-aggressive histologic subtype, but needed more surgical stages and more complex reconstruction.
Conclusion:
We have observed that BCC on the nasolabial fold, despite presenting with better clinical and histological features, needed more complicated surgery. In our opinion, this location warrants a particular attention and further prospective studies should be made to corroborate our findings.
