Five-year cycle of basal cell carcinoma management re-audit

To complete a 5-year audit cycle for all malignant lid tumours treated by one consultant (Stafanous) and re-audit the first work done in 2000 and 2001/2002. The main aim was to find out the recurrence rate and presence of new lesions in 5-years' follow-up and determine whether it is safe to discharge patients after histological clearance and satisfactory reconstruction outcome rather than 5 years' follow-up.

Retrospective audit from January 2000 to December 2006. The collected data was: Site and type of lesions, type of surgery, recurrence rate and new lesions.

Out of 112 cases identified, 104 were Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), 3 Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma (SGC) and 1 Malignant Melanoma (MM). 68/112 had biopsy before definitive surgery and 44/112 had surgery without preceding biopsy. 54/112 had one stage surgical excision and 58/112 had modified Moh's surgery in 2-4 theatre sessions. Only 1/112 had recurrence at the same site during the follow-up period and 5 had new lesions at different periorbital sites.

There was no evidence of significant recurrence to justify the 5-years' follow-up. Patients with histologically cleared tumours and satisfactory functional and cosmetic reconstruction outcome can safely be discharged to their GP and should be re referred for new lesions. The functional and cosmetic outcome of the reconstruction was generally satisfactory.