Purpose: This retrospective, case-control study aimed at evaluating the influence of patient-, tumor-, and management-related factors on the outcome of surgical therapy for facial basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) employing a multivariate analysis.
Methods: One hundred one patients who underwent ablative surgery for BCC of the face at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/ Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Jena, between April 2005 and January 2009, were analyzed. Patients' charts were screened for anamnestic features as well as management- and follow-up-related details. Standardized photographs were subjected to an esthetic evaluation. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with postsurgical wound healing disorders, recurrence, and esthetic impairment.
Results: Following surgical BCC treatment, age and tumor location in the area of the eyes, nose, lips, and ears were independent predictors of wound healing disorders. Tumor location in the area of the eyes, nose, lips, and ears, subtype and class were independent predictors of recurrence. Female gender and location in the area of the eyes, nose, lips, and ears were independent predictors of esthetic impairment. Micrographic surgery and distant reconstruction technique were management-related predictors of wound healing disorders and esthetic outcome, respectively.
Conclusions: The identified negative predictors of treatment outcome should be included in the informed consent to objectify the patient's preoperative expectations.