Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) usually grows slowly, increasing in size and depth of invasion over months to years. It is important prior to surgery to predict aggressive behavior of BCC, especially its deeper extension. In 216 primary BCCs treated with surgical excision, maximum vertical diameter, designated as “invasion index, ” from the surrounding skin surface to the bottom of the tumor was measured. As predictive factors, age, sex, duration, anatomical location, tumor horizontal diameter, histologic subtypes, and ulceration were listed. Multiple linear regression analysis, which was performed on the seven factors related to the invasion index, showed significant strength of influence of male sex, larger tumor horizontal diameter, and aggressive histologic subtypes (infiltrative, morpheic, and micronodular). When treating BCC having the three predictive factors, clinicians should keep in mind its potential for deeper invasion. [Skin Cancer (Japan) 2000; 15: 138-142]
