[Recurrence of palpebral basal cell carcinoma according to histological margins].

Background: Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) represent 90% of malignant tumors of the eyelids, which can be locally invasive and destructive. The observation of histological safety margins (MHS) allows for the prevention of recurrence while maintaining a fair compromise between aesthetics and functionality. However, to date, there is no consensus or national recommendations concerning the MHS to be observed according to the various histological subtypes of BCCs.

Methods: Through a retrospective analysis of patient records and corresponding excisional slides, we studied the 6-year recurrence rate of 98 patients who underwent surgery for palpebral BCC.

Results: MHS were mostly absent in the excisional specimens of recurrent BCCs and significantly more narrow than in non-recurrent BCCs, on average over 2mm.

Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that an average MHS greater than 2mm prevents most recurrences.