Basal Cell Carcinoma in Patients over 80 Years Presenting for Surgical Excision: Clinical Characteristics and...

Background. Complete basal cell carcinoma (BCC) excision remains the most common treatment modality. However, its clinical characteristics and the surgical outcomes achieved in patients over 80 years-often with several medical comorbidities and potentially limited life expectancy-have not been thoroughly examined. This clinical study aims to investigate tumor-specific characteristics and surgical outcomes following surgical treatment of BCC in older individuals. Methods. An observational cohort study based on a prospectively maintained database was conducted in a tertiary center using a predetermined protocol. Patients who underwent BCC surgery between January 2010 and September 2024 were included and grouped by age under or over 80 years. The inclusion criterion was a histologically confirmed BCC, while patients with syndromes predisposing BCC development were excluded. Results. Among the 1396 biopsy-proven BCCs, 35% of the patients were older than 80 years. No significant differences were observed in their baseline characteristics. The pathogenic capacity was greater in elderly patients, who exhibited higher rates of multiple and concurrent skin cancers, larger BCC diameters, and routine involvement in high-risk areas. More lesions were classified as high-risk for recurrence, and the surgical treatment was accompanied by a higher frequency of positive or close margins, high-grade subtypes, and perineural invasion. Logistic regression of 1150 BCCs revealed that age > 80, advanced TNM stage, and margin status robustly predict high-risk histology and high NCCN risk of tumor recurrence. Conclusions. This study highlights that BCC in the elderly population tends to present with a more aggressive tumor status, based on the key clinical and pathology features. These findings underscore the need for tailored surgical strategies in this population.