A 33-year-old member asked:
How can i be sure that my basal cell carcinoma on my forehead has been cured completely after surgery?
3 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in
Dr. Lawrence Colenanswered
Plastic Surgery 48 years experience
Pathology reports: The best way to know if the skin cancer has been entirely removed is by careful pathologic evaluation. Though the "path report" isn't always correct, it is rare that a skin cancer will return in the same place if the report states that it has been entirely removed.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Darab Hormozianswered
Plastic Surgery 40 years experience
The pathology report: When a basal cell is removed and sent to pathologist for evaluation of the margins. If the margins were clear , that means the basal cell was removed completely.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Zahid Niazi commented
Cosmetic Surgery 41 years experience
Agree with Dr Hormozi, the gold standard for diagnosis and complete excision is by pathological evaluation of the excised specimen with a comment by the pathologist regarding lateral edges and deeper margin.
Aug 26, 2013
Dr. Barry Pressanswered
Plastic Surgery 46 years experience
Clear margins: Only a small margin of normal tissue is necessary when excising most basal cell carcinomas. Either a frozen section pathology exam or permanent sections will confirm this. If the margins are clear, the chance of recurrence is very low.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 49-year-old member asked:
Will the docs make sure that my basal cell carcinoma on my forehead is completely gone after surgery?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jay Bradleyanswered
Cornea, Cataract, & Refractive (LASIK & PRK) Surgery 20 years experience
Yes: After excision, the margin of the excised tumor are checked under the microscope to determine absence of the basal cell carcinoma. If they are negative, the risk of recurrence is small but not zero so you need close future followup.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 12, 2015
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