Treatment of basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid

109 cases treated for basal cell carcinoma of the lid are presented. Of the 79 patients who received radiation treatment alone, 65 (82%) were recurrence-free at two years and of the 45 followed for five years, 31 (69%) were recurrence-free. Of the 30 cases radically excised, 27 (90%) were cured at two years, and all of the 15 who were followed for five years. Small tumours were cured as effectively with irradiation (98%) as with excision (92%). Larger tumours with a diameter of more than one cm seemed to have a less favourable result with radiotherapy, 20/33 for two years and 9/21 for five years, than with excision, 6/7 and 5/5, respectively.