Assessment and surgical treatment of basal cell skin cancer

Basal cell cancer is the most common skin malignancy presented to the surgeon. Although the lesion is rarely metastatic, it is capable of significant local tissue destruction. The modern clinician must maintain a well-grounded, common sense approach to the assessment and treatment of such tumors. An understanding of the disease process coupled with an ability to recognize the tumor in its multiple forms is paramount. A review of the tumor's patterns of presentation and behavior, and a discussion of its surgical management and other treatment options are presented.