Excision of head and neck basal cell carcinoma with a rapid, cross-sectional, frozen-section technique.

Objectives: To compare a rapid, cross-sectional frozen-section technique with Mohs micrographic surgery, using recurrence rate and cost of treatment for excision of basal cell carcinoma as indicators to validate our indications for Mohs surgery.

Design: Retrospective study of 557 head and neck basal cell carcinomas excised over 10 years.

Main Outcome Measures: Recurrence rates; tumor comparisons by size, location, and subtype; a life table, and a patient satisfaction survey.