A new approach for presurgical margin assessment by reflectance confocal microscopy of basal cell carcinoma

• Published in: British journal of dermatology (1951) Vol. 174; no. 2; pp. 380 - 385
• Main Authors: Venturini, M., Gualdi, G., Zanca, A., Lorenzi, L., Pellacani, G., Calzavara-Pinton, P.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2016; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Basal cell carcinoma; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - surgery; Confocal microscopy; Dermoscopy - methods; Female; Humans; Male; Margins of Excision; Microscopy; Microscopy, Confocal - methods; Middle Aged; Preoperative Care - methods; Reflectance; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Tumors
• DOI: 10.1111/bjd.14244
• ISSN: 0007-0963

Summary Background Surgical excision represents the most common elective treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Several noninvasive approaches have been proposed for in vivo determination of tumour margin, in order to achieve radical removal. Objectives To propose a new approach through the combination of dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) for lateral margin detection in BCC. Methods Ten patients with lesions clinically suggestive of nonpigmented BCCs with ill‐defined margins were enrolled. All BCCs were dermoscopically evaluated first and the ill‐defined margins were marked with a superficial cut and then inspected using RCM. Results RCM evaluation showed BCC foci beyond the presurgical marker in three out of 10 lesions. Histology confirmed the RCM results: the presence of BCC features across the cut, corresponding to two superficial BCCs and a morpheaform BCC. Conclusions This new procedure helped to improve the identification of proper margins for surgical excision in nonpigmented BCC with clinically and dermoscopically ill‐defined margins. What's already known about this topic? Mohs surgery is considered the most efficient technique for complete removal of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), but it is time consuming and expensive. What does this study add? The suggested procedure of dermoscopy combined with reflectance confocal microscopy helps to improve the identification of proper margins for surgical excision of BCC. Plain language summary available online