[Problems and planning of excision of large basaliomas]

At the excision of 1083 basal cell carcinomas, the clinically detectable diameters and the safe margins along the tumor border were calculated. The excision edges were histologically controlled. 115 of the 1083 tumors showed diameters exceeding 20 mm. The frequency of excisions with negative or positive edges corresponded to the safe margin and depth of the incision. Our results showed that even for large tumors a safe margin of more than 5 mm is seldom appropriate. The excision should always include the subcutaneous tissue as well as the underlying tissue, if the site of the lesion permits it. The excised edges should be histologically controlled with regard to radical excision. Our findings are illustrated by an exemplary case.