Recurrence of palpebral basal cell carcinoma according to histological margins

Background. - Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) represent 90% of malignant tumors of the eyelids, which can be locally invasive and destructive. The observation of histological safety margins (MHS) allows for the prevention of recurrence while maintaining a fair compromise between aesthetics and functionality. However, to date, there is no consensus or national recommendations concerning the MHS to be observed according to the various histological subtypes of BCCs.Methods. - Through a retrospective analysis of patient records and corresponding excisional slides, we studied the 6-year recurrence rate of 98 patients who underwent surgery for palpebral BCC. Results. - MHS were mostly absent in the excisional specimens of recurrent BCCs and significantly more narrow than in non-recurrent BCCs, on average over 2 mm.Conclusion. - The results of our study suggest that an average MHS greater than 2 mm prevents most recurrences.(c) 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.