Surgical Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Abstract

Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy in the world, with over 5.4 million new cases diagnosed in the United States annually. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) comprises 70–75% of these cases, and up to 85% occur in the head and neck region. Basal cell carcinoma is thus the most common cancer in the world and is reaching epidemic proportions, with an ever-rising incidence. This can be observed most strikingly in Australia, which has the highest prevalence of skin cancer in the world. BCCs less commonly cause death, but if left alone can invade locally and cause significant functional loss and morbidity.