| Author and year of publication |
Type of study |
No. of patients |
Purpose of the study |
Result/conclusion |
| Ito et al., 2015 [11] |
Observational study |
218 |
Narrow excision margin is a reliable method for excision of well-demarcated, primary pigmented basal cell carcinoma |
Surgical removal with a 2-3-mm excision margin is an adequate treatment for well-defined, primary pigmented BCC, with a 99% complete removal rate. |
| Lin et al., 2016 [12] |
Retrospective study |
143 |
Treatment of pigmented basal cell carcinoma with 3 mm surgical margin in asians |
The study suggests that a 3mm margin is reliable for the excision of pigmented BCC. Nonpigmented BCC had a higher risk for recurrence and thus needs careful follow up. |
| Ünverdi et al., 2020 [13] |
Observational study |
113 |
Recommended surgical margins for basal cell carcinoma Is 3 mm safe enough? |
A 3-mm surgical margin is sufficient for BCC excision. |
| Thomas et al., 2003 [14] |
Prospective study |
150 |
Excision margins for non-melanotic skin cancer (NMSCS) |
The majority of NMSC of up to 20 mm in diameter should be excised with a 4-mm surgical margin of skin that appears clinically healthy under magnification |
| Laloo et al., 2000 [15] |
Prospective study |
63 |
Head and neck basal cell carcinoma: treatment with a 2‐mm clinical excision margin |
clinical excision margin of 2mm is adequate for the treatment of simple, well defined BCCs arising in the head and neck |
| Konopnicki et al., 2016 [16] |
Retrospective study |
127 |
Nasal basal cell carcinomas. Can we decrease surgical margins to 3 mm with a complete rate of excision? |
Three-millimeters margins could be used to manage nasal BCC in selected cases. |
| Chadha et al., 2009 [17] |
Retrospective study |
90 |
Small margin excision of periocular basal cell carcinomas. British Journal of Ophthalmology, |
Histological clearance rates and recurrence rates are not compromised by using smaller (2 mm) than conventional margins for clinically well-defined nodular BCCs |
| Huang et al., 2004 [18] |
Prospective study |
55 |
Small margin excision of periocular basal cell carcinoma |
A small margin of excision of nodular adnexal BCCs with a delayed repair is a safe and efficient method. |
| Santiago et al., 2019 [19] |
observational study |
306 |
How wide should he excision margins for facial small aggressive basal cell carcinoma be? Experience with 306 Cases. |
In small facial primary BCCs with aggressive histological patterns a 4 mm resection margin was enough to eradicate the lesion completely in 99% of cases |
| Nazhad et al., 2006 [20] |
Prospective study |
50 |
Safety margin in excision of basal cell carcinoma. |
Excision margin of 4 mm is enough |
| Nemet et al., 2006 [21] |
Retrospective study |
485 |
Management of periocular basal and squamous cell carcinoma: A Series of 485 cases |
Two-millimeter margins is adequate in preventing recurrences for nodular BCCs, and 4 mm for preventing recurrence in other types of BCC. |
| Wolf et al., 1987 [22] |
Observational study |
117 |
Surgical margins for basal cell carcinoma |
It concluded that a minimum margin of 4 mm excision margin is necessary to eradicate a tumor in 95% of BCCs measuring less than 2 cm |
| Griffiths et al., 1999 [23] |
Prospective study |
1392 |
Audit of histologically incompletely excised basal cell carcinomas: recommendations for management by re-excision. |
The incomplete excision in the histological report in basal cell carcinomas excised with a 3mm margin, was found in 7%of the lesions |
| Blomqvist et al., 1982 [24] |
Observational study |
477 |
Surgical results in 477 basal cell carcinomas. |
The study concluded that 3mm margins eradicated the tumor in only 85% of cases |
| Kimyai-Asadi et al., 2005 [25] |
Observational study |
134 |
Efficacy of narrow-margin excision of well-demarcated primary facial basal cell carcinomas |
Narrow excision margin of 1-3 mm is not enough for the removal, of well-defined, primary nodular BCCs of the face. |
