Factors Affecting Recurrence and Costs of Basal Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

Around 80% of the all non-melanoma skin cancer cases suffer from basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Mohs surgery is one of the common method used for treatment in recent years. There are several treatment methods for primary BCC. One of these methods is Mohs micrographic surgery (Mohs surgery), which has become popular in recent years.

The aim of this study was to investigate 4-year recurrence and factors affecting the recurrence of BCC patients after Mohs surgery.

This is a retrospective cohort study. The study population included all BCCs, who underwent Mohs surgery in Alzarha Hospital in Isfahan between 2007 and 2014, and were monitored for recurrence for 4 years. Cox regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting time recurrence.

The most and least frequent locations of this disease are nose (30.3%) and body (0.5%). The most common locations for recurrence are scalp (50%), nose (15%), and around the eyes (15%). The 4-year recurrence frequency of BCC after Mohs surgery was 0.9%. Cox regression analysis relationship between determining factors affecting time recurrence was not significance.

The causes of recurrence can include the less use of protective equipment in front of sunlight or low precision of doctors in the lesion surgery in locations of the body, arms, feet, head, neck, hands, legs or genital organs, and other parts of the body.