MOHS SURGERY OF PERIOCULAR BASEL CELL-CARCINOMA USING FORMALIN-FIXED SECTIONS AND DELAYED CLOSURE

Mohs' surgery of periocular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) ensures a high cure rate with maximal preservation of normal tissue. The formalin-fix ed paraffin-embedded tissue technique allows Mohs' surgery to be perfo rmed using routine pathology facilities and permits the efficient use of operating room personnel and theatre time. The inevitable delay bet ween excision and closure may potentially result in a poor functional and cosmetic outcome, particularly around the eye, We prospectively st udied all patients with periocular BCC treated with this technique at our unit between 1985 and 1996, One hundred and twenty-three periocula r BCCs in 120 patients were treated, Microscopic clearance was achieve d in all cases. Closure was performed on average 5 days after the init ial excisional stage. Closing procedures included direct closure, flap s and grafts, Significant complications affecting outcome were noted i n only two patients. Eighty-eight per cent of patients assessed had a functional and cosmetic result regarded as excellent, good or adequate . Mohs' surgery of periocular BCC using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedd ed tissue and delayed closure results in a satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcome and offers a viable alternative to the frozen sectio n fresh tissue technique.