Success of Mohs surgery in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma in a tier two city in India

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represents the commonest cutaneous malignancy globally. Its diagnosis in patients with skin of color is often delayed due to its low prevalence which reduces clinical suspicion and its indolent course. Studies on BCC in India are few. Considering that it is a locally invasive tumor commonly seen in the head and neck region, its management calls for the complete clearance of the cancer accompanied by minimal cosmetic disfigurement. One modality fitting the said requirements is Mohs micrographic surgery. However, the facilities for the same are limited in our country. We report here cases of histologically confirmed BCC managed successively with Mohs surgery, a technique associated with low recurrence rates while also being aesthetically superior when compared to traditional surgical excision.