ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surgical removal and reconstruction in basal cell carcinoma(BCC) located in the face is important both functionally and cosmetically, however, evaluation of clinical and histological characteristics of BCC in view of dermatologic surgery is not enough. OBJECTIVE: To assess the anatomic distribution of primary and recurrent BCCs, and of histological subtypes based on facial aesthetic units and subunits. And to establish their importance and their application to the dermatologic surgery field. METHODS: We reviewed patients' charts to extract clinical data and reexamined their histologic patterns on the excised specimen, classifying then into 5 categories and mapped the anatomical location of the histologic subtype on schematic drawings of the facial the aesthetic unit and subunit. RESULTS: The location of occurrence in BCCs were on the junctional lines, nose, periorbital area respectively. Of 60 cases occurred in H-zone, 48 cases(80%) occurred in T-zone, and of 9 recurrent cancers occurred in H-zone, 7 cases occurred in T-zone. Among the 5 histologic subtypes, the nodular type was the most common on each of the aesthetic units. And in the junctional lines, the nodular type occurred in almost all cases. The nodulomorpheic type occurred relatively more on forehead, nose and infraorbital area of the cheek. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the relationship between the clinical, histological characteristics and facial aesthetic unit and subunit. And we also proved that T-zone was the most dangerous zone.