THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY IN THE PERIOD 2017-2022

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the situation and characteristics of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and to follow up on and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment methods at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (NHDV) during the period 2017-2022.

Material and methods: Cross-sectional study using data from all patients diagnosed with BCC and treated at NHDV from January 2017 to December 2022.

Results: In the six years from 2017 to 2022, 1133 patients with skin cancer were treated at NHDV, of whom 765 patients had BCC, accounting for 67.5%. The mean age of BCC patients gradually decreased from 65.01 years old in 2017 to 60.2 years old in 2022, and the proportion of patients under 60 years old increased statistically over the years (p < 0.01). Among the 387 BCC patients treated at NHDV from January 2020 to December 2022, 317 patients underwent Mohs surgery, accounting for 81.9%, and no recurrence was recorded. Meanwhile, 70 patients underwent wide-local excision (18.1%), and five cases of recurrence were recorded during follow-up.

Conclusion: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common among skin cancers, and patients tend to be younger. Mohs surgery yields good results with the highest cure rate, optimizing the preservation of surrounding healthy skin tissue, maintaining function and aesthetics, and minimizing the recurrence rate.

Received 02 July 2023
Revised 20 September 2023
Accepted 26 November 2023