Clinical and pathological features of the giant, invasive basal cell carcinoma of the scalp

J Craniofac Surg. 2013 Nov;24(6):e610-4. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e3182a2b744.

Abstract

Background: The giant, invasive basal cell carcinoma of the scalp is a rare clinical form of this tumor that appears on the skin, but may spread to some of the following structures: soft tissues of the scalp, bones, meninges, and the brain. In literature, so far, it is known as the GBCC. It is caused by aggressive BCC subtypes.

Methods: We will present here a research of clinical and pathological features of 47 pathological specimens in 31 patients where the following features were examined: the dimension of the tumor, the dimension of the tissue segment, tumor area, segmentation area, resection margin width, microscopic resection margin status, tumor invasion level, and the outcome.

Results and conclusions: We have concluded that microscopic resection margin dimensions from 1 to 10 mm are safe and that relapse occurrences in giant, invasive BCCs of the scalp depend on microscopic resection margin dimensions, resection margin status, tumor invasion levels, risky occupation, and risky behavior of the patient.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / surgery
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microdissection / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Risk Factors
  • Scalp / pathology*
  • Scalp / surgery
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome