The biologic behavior of basal cell carcinoma: analysis of recurrence in excised basal cell carcinoma: Part II.

On the basis of a study of 188 cases of basal cell carcinoma of the face, the differences between the characteristics of recurrent and incompletely excised lesions are stressed. There was almost no difference in the recurrence rate of completely excised lesions and those in which there was histologic evidence of tumor at one of the margins. On the basis of these findings, a policy of conservative management of incompletely excised basal cell carcinoma is outlined.